Year: 2021

30 July 2021

COVID-19 vaccinations – second dose for those who attended the onsite clinic

Please note that this clinic will be held on 4 and 5 August. Your appointment will be for the same day and time as your last one. For example, this means that if you attended the last clinic on a Wednesday, you should attend the next clinic on the Wednesday at the same time.

Evidence of COVID vaccination

If you have not yet had your COVID-19 vaccination, please consider having it as soon as possible. There is only around 7 weeks until the deadline for all residential aged care workers to have had at least their first dose of the vaccine. If you have had your vaccine, please ensure that you send evidence of having the vaccine as soon as possible to ep.vaccinations@whiddon.com.au.  

Please note that there will be a weekly draw to win a $100 voucher. This will be for all staff who have already provided evidence of having a COVID-19 vaccine. We will continue to hold the weekly draw for the next 7 weeks, you have to have provided evidence of your vaccine to win a prize!

COVID-19 precautions – PPE and Raines House 
From time-to-time, we may need to isolate residents if there has been any potential risk of exposure to COVID-19. Raines House has been used to isolate residents, for example, if they have returned from hospital and there is a potential exposure. We have had no cases of COVID-19 at Whiddon and this is implemented as a precaution, along with employees wearing full PPE at times should a potential risk be identified.

Close and Casual Contacts

With the increasing numbers of cases in the community we are seeing an increase in the numbers of employees who are being deemed as close and casual contacts. We thank staff for their cooperation and honesty in notifying us when they have been deemed either a close or casual contact. This information is essential to help us protect other employees and residents. If you have been identified as a close or casual contact and inform us of this exposure, you will not be in any trouble and your job will be safe. However, any employee who deliberately withholds information will face disciplinary action.

To date, we have had no positive cases of Covid-19 on site.

Rapid Antigen Testing

For the time being while community transmission of Covid-19 remains high, we will continue the Rapid Antigen Testing. As a reminder this testing is not mandatory, however reporting to the testing station and completing the decline to consent form is mandatory.

Staff living in affected LGA’s will continue to have the formal PCR Testing every 72 hours as per the Public Health Directive. As a reminder, this formal testing can be done on site to save you the time and inconvenience of attending a testing centre.

Thank you for all that you are doing in keeping both yourselves, each other and the residents safe.

27 July 2021

Following the update sent to you on Sunday evening, we are pleased to advise you that the employee who attended a COVID-19 venue of concern recently, has returned a negative COVID-19 test result.

The employee is required to take another test today, and as a precaution, our employees will remain in full PPE for now. Again, as a precaution at this time, visitors will not be permitted to Whiddon Beaudesert Star for now.

Once we receive the test results from the employee’s second test and further advice from the local public health unit, we will be able to provide an update on when these precautions may be relaxed.

We hope this provides some reassurance to you and we do understand that it has been a difficult time. We remain focused on keeping everyone safe and well, and our teams are working hard to keep residents connected to their loved ones via phone or video chats.

25 July 2021

We have been advised that an employee at Whiddon Beaudesert Star attended a venue that has now been identified as a COVID-19 location of concern. As a precautionary measure, employees at Whiddon Beaudesert Star are wearing full PPE. We have made the decision to limit visitors for now, until we know more about the situation and the results of the employee’s COVID-19 test have been returned. Employees have been wearing masks while on duty as this was still a requirement.

Please note this is a precautionary measure and is in line with our COVID-19 management plan, to help keep everyone safe. We will keep you up-to-date once we know more, which is expected to be on Tuesday morning.

We thank you for your understanding and patience at this time.

23 July 

Rapid antigen testing extended during high community transmission rates – don’t forget to complete our quick survey!

We wanted to provide an update on rapid antigen testing for Whiddon Easton Park employees. While community transmission rates remain high, we have extended the rapid antigen to go past the initial two-week trial period. All employees who have taken this test have returned negative results to date. No residents or employees at Whiddon have tested positive to the virus. Please note that from time-to-time we may need to take additional precautions, such as staff wearing full PPE, if we have been advised to do so by Public Health. This may be until we can better understand any risk relating to potential casual or close contacts. Please be reassured that if any resident or employee tests positive to COVID-19 we would make contact with you.

Rapid antigen tests are taken on-the-spot and deliver a result in just ten minutes. They are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and under supervision of a registered nurse, employees have been trained to administer the tests themselves and should a positive result be detected, the employee must then take a standard diagnostic test in line with Government advice.

Employees are encouraged to have the test when they come on shift. Research has shown that the frequency of the testing is the most important factor in controlling the spread of infection.

We are proud to bring this industry leading initiative to Whiddon Easton Park as it adds a very important layer of increased protection for residents and employees against COVID-19.

As a reminder – we ask you to please complete our short survey on rapid antigen testing. We appreciate your time in completing this and your feedback is important to us. You can access the survey by clicking HERE.

22 July 2021

MEMO to Whiddon Easton Park employees

Hi Team,

Just a quick message to the Easton Park team to keep you up-to-date with all that is happening.

1. Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) will continue for the time being whilst there is high numbers of community transmission. As a reminder this is not mandatory, however presenting to the testing station on a daily basis is, staff who decline MUST complete a decline to consent form on each occasion.

The success of testing is reliant on all staff members participating in the testing program, so we will continue to strongly encourage all staff to participate.

4pm Starters: Please note that we have changed the testing area for staff commencing work at 4pm, they will need to present to Taylor House. This station will be open from 3.45pm to 4.10pm only.

2. Formal PCR testing for staff living in the affected postcodes. This is mandated for all staff living in the identified postcodes. For these staff members, we are happy to continue facilitating the tests on site, as this will prevent staff avoiding long queues at testing centers.  Please note for this testing only, staff can continue to work while waiting for their results.
3. Vaccinations: The second Pfizer clinic will be held in two weeks’ time on site. We will advise the exact dates once I have received confirmation. Please note that the time of your second dose will be the same time as your first dose.
4. Proof of Vaccination: if you haven’t already provided proof of vaccination, please send evidence of your vaccination to the below email.

EP.Vaccinations@whiddon.com.au

For staff who have attended the vaccine clinic we have these records already, even if you have just had one vaccination. Acceptable evidence includes your immunisation statement from Medicare (accessible on-line) or a certificate from your GP/Pharmacy. To find out how to access this, visit https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/australian-immunisation-register

5. Currently we have No Staff or Residents who have tested positive to Covid-19. At all times, we keep in close contact with the Public Health Unit to get advice on situations where there may have been a risk of exposure.

We understand that these are difficult times for everyone and we thank you for all that you are doing to keep yourselves and residents safe.

As a thank you, we have delivered some sweet treats to all the staff rooms for to share and enjoy.

23 July 2021

We are pleased to let you know that Queensland Health has advised that visitor restrictions for residential aged care services in South East Queensland are now lifted. This is relevant to Whiddon Beaudesert Star. The Chief Health Officer has asked that people in South East Queensland continue to wear masks for a further seven days.

Please note that visits must be booked in advance. When you visit, please ensure the following:

• that you practice good hand hygiene and social distancing
• that you check-in through our visitor check-in system and on the Check In Queensland app
• do not visit if have been to any close or casual contact locations (for QLD click here, for NSW click here) or to any interstate locations of concern
• do not visit if you are unwell and have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• do not visit if you are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• do not visit if you live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• do not visit if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Please note that border controls will be tightened and all of New South Wales has been declared a COVID-19 Hotspot as of this morning. This is in addition to the current hotspot declarations for Victoria and South Australia. Anyone who has been in a hotspot is not permitted to enter an aged care facility in Queensland.

We are pleased to welcome you back and thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. We do ask you to stay vigilant of COVID-19 safety when visiting.

21 July 2021

In response to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Blayney, and a number of venues in the Central West identified as locations of concern, we are taking the precautionary step to apply additional measures to help protect your loved ones and our employees and visitors at this time. These measures are:

• For now, visits are only permitted on weekdays between 9am and 5pm (please note that only two visitors per day are permitted, per resident)
• These visits are by appointment only

If you live in the Blayney, Cabonne or Orange local government areas, please note the stay-at-home orders – click here for these.

If there are exceptional circumstances and you need to visit outside of these hours, approval for this will need to be discussed with the Director Care Services.

If you do visit, please ensure the following:

• that you wear a mask at all times
• practice good hand hygiene
• that you meet in your loved one’s room and maintain social distancing
• that you check-in through our visitor check-in system and on the Service NSW app
• do not visit if have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
• do not visit if you are unwell and have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• do not visit if you are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• do not visit if you live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• do not visit if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

21 July 2021

In response to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Blayney, and a number of venues in the Central West identified as locations of concern, we are taking the precautionary step to apply additional measures to help protect your loved ones and our employees and visitors at this time. These measures are:

• For now, visits are only permitted on weekdays between 8am and 4.30pm (please note that only two visitors per day are permitted, per resident)
• These visits are by appointment only

If there are exceptional circumstances and you need to visit outside of these hours, approval for this will need to be discussed with the Director Care Services.

If you do visit, please ensure the following:

• that you wear a mask at all times
• practice good hand hygiene
• that you meet in your loved one’s room and maintain social distancing
• that you check-in through our visitor check-in system and on the Service NSW app
• do not visit if have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
• do not visit if you are unwell and have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• do not visit if you are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• do not visit if you live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• do not visit if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

  We will advise in writing of any changes to these new arrangements.

17 July 2021

The NSW Government has tonight announced additional restrictions for residents of the Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown LGA’s. These LGA’s are now subject to stay at home rules that mean residents cannot leave their LGA for work except if they work in emergency services or healthcare including aged care and disability.

This means you can continue to come to work as your role is considered an essential healthcare worker. There are some things however for you to be aware of:

• Please ensure you have your proof of employment with you. You can prove your employment in Aged Care by using the following evidence:
  • COVID-19 essential worker letter (sent to you via an SMS message earlier today)
  • Your Whiddon ID
  • Evidence of your rostered shift via the Humanforce App
• You will be required to undergo COVID testing every 3 days even if you do not have any symptoms. (This was already in place for those in the Fairfield LGA).

This government direction is effective from 11:59pm Saturday 17 July.

Please note, the rapid antigen swab testing Whiddon has recently implemented will not be sufficient testing to satisfy the requirements of this health direction. We are doing all we can to obtain additional information to assist you with these new requirements and make it easier for you to obtain the COVID test. More information will be coming over the next few days.

In the meantime, we appreciate your continued dedication to our residents and your colleagues and we encourage you to reach out to your manager if you have any question. We realise this is a very uncertain time for you so please also remember our 24/7 Confidential Employee Assistance service available on 1800 818 728.

We are liaising with a local pathology provider to be able to take these swabs on-site to prevent you going to testing centres. Anyone on shift tomorrow will be swabbed on-site tomorrow.

Please also note information on COVID testing clinics here – https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics

17 July 2021

Today it was announced that people living in Fairfield, Canterbury, Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas (LGA’s) cannot leave that LGA for work except for emergency services and healthcare workers – this includes aged and disability care. This means that you are still required to work as you are deemed an essential employee.

Please find a link to a letter below that states that you are deemed an essential employee. Please take this letter with you as proof of being deemed an essential worker. You should also ensure that you are in full uniform when commuting to and from work as evidence of your attendance also. Staff without a uniform, please ensure that you have as a minimum a lanyard.

Please also note that it was announced that carpooling will also not be allowed between members who are not from the same household

Click on the link below to download the letter

COVID-19 Essential Worker

Thank you