A woman who manages a care home broke down on TV after being forced to sack six members of staff because they aren't vaccinated against Covid-19, and pleaded with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to 'give us a break'.
Theresa Ingram-Gettins is the manager of Boldmere Court Care Home in Birmingham and has had to embark upon the 'very difficult' process of letting staff go because of their stance on the vaccines.
She admitted she knows she's sending some of them 'into poverty' and even revealed how one relative of an elderly resident was left 'sobbing' too because her mother's 'special' carer is one of those who has not received the vaccine.
Of course, vaccines are important because they offer protection not only to those who receive them but also to those around them, of which the residents of care homes are often the most vulnerable.
However, Ingram-Gettins says the government's 'no jab, no job' policy which came into force this week is 'affecting people's mental health' and has caused 60,000 carers to lose their jobs.
Furthermore, she claims it has taken a toll on the 'physical wellbeing' of other staff, who are now having to cover for the hours and shifts lost.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the care home manager said: "We're tired, we're worn out, we've just come through a pandemic - give us a break Boris."
The new rules include all staff who work at care homes, including cleaners and receptionists, and are aimed at reducing the spread of the virus amongst those most vulnerable as the country prepares for what is sure to be another tough winter.
However, despite the obvious good sense behind the ruling, unions have compared it to 'taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut' and pointed to the fact that 90 percent of care home workers are already vaccinated.
Nadra Ahmed, the chair of the National Care Association, told MailOnline: "There are families with very real concerns that care homes just haven't got enough staff to care for their relatives properly."
Whilst others have welcomed the move, even with the loss of staff, others have pointed out that visitors to care homes are not checked and approved based upon their vaccine status.
Business Minister Paul Scully has defended the move, saying staff had been given 'plenty of time' to get vaccinated, urging those who haven't to 'reconsider' their position.
Featured Image Credit: Good Morning Britain/ITVTopics: UK News, vaccine, Health, Covid-19