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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
By Ryan Thom & Kirsty Feerick

Scots landlord offers free flat to NHS staff to say thank you during coronavirus crisis

A kind-hearted landlady is offering her flat to NHS staff to use for free during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kay Morgan, 46, has made her two-bedroom property in Prestwick, South Ayrshire available for nurses, doctors and care workers on the front line fighting COVID-19.

Her spacious flat in the town centre is free to use for a maximum of two NHS staff who want to self-isolate while treating patients suffering from the deadly illness.

Her spacious flat in the town centre is free to use for a maximum of two NHS staff (SWNS)

The flat, which is normally listed on Airbnb, usually hosts tourists, golfers or visitors to the town, but now Kay, who wishes to do her bit, is leaving it vacant for NHS workers.

The thoughtful landlady decided to offer it as a way of thanking hospital staff, who are currently treating her father Douglas Macdonald, 76, for an infection at Crosshouse hospital in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

Kay said: "We've had the flat for years and years.

"All our bookings are cancelled so it would be sitting empty.

"I wanted to see if I could help in some way, what a waste if it is just sitting there empty.

"Maybe someone could use it.

"I know what it's like being in the hospital.

"After coming home from hospital I felt at risk of infecting my own family.

"Imagine you had a newborn baby or your own parents to look after.

"There's a lot of young nurses and doctors who might not want to go back and infect their own family.

She is offering NHS workers the flat for free (SWNS)

"They could use the flat with their colleagues to get some rest in between shifts."

"It's not like a hotel, I'd want the same one or two people to stay for however long they need."

The mum-of-one also wants to show her appreciation to hospital staff after she received NHS treatment for breast cancer seven years ago.

She now hopes more Airbnb owners follow suit, as there could be hundreds of properties lying empty that could be put to good use.

Kay said: "There's loads of Airbnbs in the same position, so hopefully owners will see what I am doing and we can get people to think about doing the same.

"Some good has to come from all the bad that is happening right now."

Kay has taken the difficult decision to not visit her sick dad at all, to protect him from coronavirus as his condition puts him at high-risk.

She said: "He's a real risk - it's breaking my heart.

"Doing this with the flat is taking my mind off it as well.

"I've told my dad and he's absolutely delighted.

"We've all had more than enough from the NHS so it's time we give someone back."

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