Hatfield-based care company steps up the fight to support local residents
Local businessman, Gareth Redmayne, is on the hunt for new care workers as his at-home care company, Visiting Angels, races to meet the demand for quality care in South Hertfordshire. Whilst many businesses have no choice but to close in the wake of COVID-19, Gareth says that it’s more important than ever to push ahead with both recruitment of care workers and the growth of the business - which is quickly becoming a lifeline to local residents. Alongside his Registered Care Manager, Carron Martin, Gareth is putting the compassionate duo’s combined knowledge and experience to good use in the community.
“Of course, we could have scaled back or even temporarily closed the business in light of what’s happening,” says Gareth, a former NHS Commissioner who is local to Hatfield. “But now, more than ever, families need support, people need care and people need jobs. I’m determined to make a genuine difference to people’s lives at this most difficult time.”
Amidst the ever-evolving coronavirus outbreak, Visiting Angels also hopes to alleviate pressure on local hospitals by helping to get people back into their homes, freeing up beds for virus patients. Classified as Critical Workers, Gareth’s team are working tirelessly in the community to provide care and companionship to the elderly and vulnerable who are self-isolating, as well as those whose families can no longer support them due to their own isolation or illness.
Based in Hatfield, Visiting Angels is on the hunt for more local care workers to satisfy the growing demand for its service. Gareth has already recruited six carers into the team but plans to recruit 15 new members of staff in the coming months.
“Obviously, the priority at this time is the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff and our clients,” says Gareth. “We’re doing all that we can to ensure everyone is protected with strict hygiene and sanitation as well as the social distancing policies in place. But people’s lives quite literally depend on the work that we – and others like us all over the county – are doing. I’m incredibly proud of my team for their attitude and commitment. Many of them have families of their own to consider but their unwavering compassion for others sees them out in the community day in, day out. It’s truly inspiring and I can’t thank them enough.”
Passionate about care in the community, Gareth’s own background includes working in older people’s medicine before becoming a Commissioner for healthcare services. In 2012 he worked with the Singapore Government, setting up an innovative lung health service and in 2015 spent several years in Qatar working on the set-up of a mega hospital as part of the World Cup Project. In 2019, feeling the pull of home and his beloved Hertfordshire, Gareth decided to launch Visiting Angels.
“I’d always wanted to have my own business – even from a young age – and I felt that, with all my experience, senior care was the obvious choice. I know in my heart what good care looks like; I’ve seen it all over the world. I was determined to use my knowledge and experience to the advantage of the people of Hertfordshire. By standing strong in the face of this crisis, we join the army of frontline workers across the country. Together we will help the nation get through this.”
Visiting Angels South Hertfordshire serves the families of Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, St Albans and Potters Bar. For more information, visit https://www.visiting-angels.co.uk/southherts or call Gareth on 01707 585 888.
-ends-
To speak with Gareth Redmayne, contact Liam Pitts at Rev PR on 07395 641523 or email liam@revpr.co.uk
Images attached: high-res head shots of Gareth and Gareth outside the Visiting Angels office.