July 21-22 2021 residents were treated to the Band of the Royal Irish and the Pipes and Drums. Everyone enjoyed  a spectacular display on both days in blazing sunshine the warmest (To Date) ever recorded in Northern Ireland) A huge thank you from all the residents and staff to the bands.

The Somme Nursing Home is Northern Ireland’s only exclusive residential care facility for service veterans, merchant navy, and blue light services. The residents and staff have, thankfully, now received their second dose of the Covid vaccine, but it has been a long and difficult road to get to this point, as Cherry Casey found out from Nurse Manager Ruth Rogers

The Somme Nursing Home, Nurse Manager Ruth Rogers, speaking to Cherry Casey, if you’d like to know more or ask about the availability of care, email admin@sommenursing.org

Enjoy the interview.

All of us at the Somme are proud of serving those who have provided services and fought for our country… Its been a tough year for both staff and residents.  The families have been supportive and understanding through this time…we appreciate all the other key workers out there going through the same process to keep the residents safe at this difficult time.. We all wanted to show you that it is not all doom and gloom and we have fun and it really has helped lift the spirits of all. We have light at the end of the tunnel.. And we would all like to say we will never forget those we loved and lost.. God bless you all

Lest we forget….

We are pleased to announce that as of 25th January 2021 all of our existing residents and staff have now been vaccinated with their 2nd injection for the COVID-19 virus.

A Somme Christmas Message

Christmas is a time of year for remembrance, this year more so than any other.

A time to take stock of where we have come from and have a moment to think about where we are going as we pursue the future with hope.  I sincerely wish that the magic of this Christmas season will fill your home with peace and joy.

There has been a lot of change at The Somme this year, apart from Covid19, especially within the management team, but I am delighted to say that everyone has now comfortably settled in.  When I was appointed to this position in September, I sent a message to families and staff saying how delighted I was to get the placement.  As we approach the end of the year, I still feel that privilege.  Upon my appointment, I made a commitment to get out and about to meet as many families, residents, and staff as soon as I could.  Ongoing restrictions have made this a bit more challenging but the feedback I have received from residents and families has been so positive, and I have continually been impressed by the commitment and dedication of all staff to provide the best possible care for our residents.  There is no such thing as a quiet year at the Somme; 2020 has been no exception.  A repeated thank you to families and residents, and indeed staff for your continued understanding and patience in dealing with our numerous constraints.  Together we have risen to all challenges and even marked some considerable successes: After the most difficult of Summers, we still managed to achieve an outstanding report from an unannounced RQIA inspection.

As we move towards the end of 2020, I would like to send a personal thank you to each member of staff at the Somme for your hard work, professionalism and resolve during what has been one of our most challenging and busiest years, for too many reasons to mention.  I never cease to be amazed by what you deliver.  I am truly proud of each and every one of you, and even prouder to tell everyone that I have the privilege to be a part of what you do.

As we go into the Christmas period, I would also like to thank the many of you who will be working over the next few weeks.  I know there are so many who are incredibly grateful for you giving up this precious time with your families, and I also know how much you will be doing to cheer up those in your care who would rather be home with their families even if they cannot this year.

I would also like to add a very sincere note of gratitude to all of our most generous donors and sponsors whose very kind donations are invaluable to us and have contributed, both to improving conditions for staff but more importantly to a number of projects that directly improve the standard of life and quality of care we are able to provide to residents.  Your support is precious to us, you truly make a difference, and we are extremely grateful.

A final note of thanks must go to all our suppliers who have consistently been there for us, especially in times of crisis.

This holiday season will be unlike any other, to cap off a year unlike any other. Throughout this season, and as we move into a new (and hopefully better) year, we wish you moments of peace amid the difficulties, connections with family and friends even if they cannot be in person, the warmth of memories from holidays past, and glimpses of the joy that still lives under the surface.

Here’s to a great 2021!

Gary Cassells

Executive Director

Captain Sir Tom Moore 30 April 1920 – 2 February 2021

The 100-year-old, who raised almost £33m for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden, was admitted to Bedford Hospital on Sunday.

The Queen led tributes to Capt Sir Tom, “recognising the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world”.

The Somme Nursing Home residents and staff pay their tribute to Sir Tom.

Welcome to our brand new web site we hope this clean modern approach provides you with easy access to all the information you need about the Somme Nursing Home.

If you need to additional information use our web form to  Contact us. or telephone +44 (0) 28 9076 3044