Year: 2022

29 July 2022

We would like to provide an update on the current COVID outbreak at Whiddon Redhead. We have been advised that the local Public Health Unit are currently reviewing the outbreak and we are awaiting on further instructions.

The health and safety of our residents and staff remain our utmost priority, and we continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit to ensure a safe re-opening of Whiddon Redhead.

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time and will provide a further update in the coming days.

29 July 2022

We have been working with the local Public Health Unit and are pleased to share that our COVID outbreak at Whiddon Kyogle will be declared over from tomorrow, Saturday 30 July. 

From tomorrow residents can return to their normal activities and visitation requirements will return to normal.

We do want to remind you to ensure your visits are pre-booked and the following applies:

• Whiddon strongly recommends all relevant vaccinations of both COVID-19 and influenza for all visitors.
• Non-vaccinated visitors are able to visit their loved ones in an outdoor area wearing N95 masks and face shields. Non-vaccinated visitors should not enter a home unless approval is given by the DCS/DDCS Team based on individual circumstances e.g. end of life, compassionate visits, resident wellbeing.
• Visitors must wear an N95 mask, face shield and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Up to 2 children under 12 years are permitted to visit provided they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated person
• Wherever possible, the visit should be in resident’s room or in an outdoor area. Visits should not be in any inside communal areas
• Visitors must check-in through our visitor check-in system
• Visitors must not visit if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements). People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Visitors must not visit if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, feel unwell or have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless they are: fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and they have received a negative antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in NSW

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time and want to acknowledge the support the dedication from our staff.

29 July 2022 

We have been working with the local Public Health Unit and are please to share that our COVID outbreak in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso has been declared over.

Visitations may resume as normal. We want to remind you that visits must be pre-booked and are only permitted from 8:00am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time.

29 July 2022 

We have been working with the local Public Health Unit and are pleased to share that our COVID outbreak in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso has been declared over.

Visitations may resume as normal. We do want to remind you to ensure your visits are pre-booked and the following applies:

• Visitations are permitted between 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
• Weekend visits must have approval from management, and are for compassionate reasons only.
• Whiddon strongly recommends all relevant vaccinations of both COVID-19 and influenza for all visitors.
• Non-vaccinated visitors are able to visit their loved ones in an outdoor area wearing N95 masks and face shields. Non-vaccinated visitors should not enter a home unless approval is given by the DCS/DDCS Team based on individual circumstances e.g. end of life, compassionate visits, resident wellbeing.
• Visitors must wear an N95 mask, face shield and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Up to 2 children under 12 years are permitted to visit provided they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated person
• Wherever possible, the visit should be in resident’s room or in an outdoor area. Visits should not be in any inside communal areas
• Visitors must check-in through our visitor check-in system
• Visitors must not visit if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements). People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Visitors must not visit if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, feel unwell or have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless they are: fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and they have received a negative antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in NSW

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time.

28 July 2022

Further from our update earlier this week, we are pleased to advise you that there have been no additional positive cases of COVID-19 recorded at Whiddon Kelso.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit to re-open the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso. We will provide an update in the coming days when the outbreak has been declared over.

27 July 2022

Dear Whiddon Easton Park Care staff,

On Monday 25^th July an SMS and email notification was sent out to you with the purpose of sharing an announcement about a proposed change to the Care rosters. The purpose of this message is to provide further update to you in regard to our process.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated by completing the survey, meeting with us in the Q&A sessions, for discussing this change and your feedback with your DCS’s so far. Your feedback, the discussion and your input has been invaluable so far.

Q&A Sessions

Are still being held today & tomorrow in the Easton Park Function Centre Dining Room. A number of you have attended and we hope that these sessions have provided a little more understanding and information in relation to the questions you had. We are open to your feedback and understand that discussing your feedback, concerns and clarifying questions is an important part of understanding this proposed change.

Employee Shift Availability Preference Survey

Thank you to those who have already completed your survey. This is important information that will assist our further understanding in our process.

A kind reminder if you have not already completed the survey, please complete this by 7 August 2022. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and is accessible via phone, tablet or computer, you can access the survey by:

1. Scanning the QR Code on the Flyer located in staff rooms across Easton Park, or
2. Clicking on this link: Employee Shift Availability Survey

Change Impact Statement

It has come to our attention that the commencement & communication date within the Change Impact Statement (Item 7, Page 3) had our commencement incorrectly stated as the 18^th July 2022. This was updated to the correct commencement date, 25^th July 2022.

Thank you to those that picked this up and had raised this feedback with us.

25 July 2022

Since our last update, we have had 9 residents and 4 employees test positive to COVID. The families of the residents have been notified.

Visitation is still limited to one nominated partner-in-care. Partners-in-care must book their visits prior to visiting our care home. All visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, wear an N95 mask and may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time, such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

Our employees also continue to be monitored daily by conducting a Rapid Antigen Testing prior to the start of their shift.

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time and will provide a further update if anything changes.

25 July 2022

Since our last update have had three employees test positive to COVID over the weekend. We believe the risk is low as the employee was wearing PPE and had zero interaction with any residents.

At this stage, there are no changes to visitations. We do want to remind you to ensure your visits must be pre-booked and the following applies:

• Whiddon strongly recommend all relevant vaccinations of both COVID-19 and influenza for all visitors.
• Non-vaccinated visitors are able to visit their loved ones in an outdoor area wearing N95 masks and face shields. Non-vaccinated visitors should not enter a home unless approval is given by the DCS/DDCS Team based on individual circumstances e.g. end of life, compassionate visits, resident wellbeing.
• Visitors must wear an N95 mask, face shield and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Up to 2 children under 12 years are permitted to visit provided they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated person
• Wherever possible, the visit should be in resident’s room or in an outdoor area. Visits should not be in any inside communal areas
• Visitors must check-in through our visitor check-in system
• Visitors must not visit if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements). People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Visitors must not visit if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, feel unwell or have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless they are: fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and they have received a negative antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in QLD

We will provide a further update if anything changes.

25 July 2022 

We have had two residents in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso test positive to COVID-19. Following the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we have activated our outbreak management plan.

Please refrain from entering the Hostel Wing, unless you’re working in the wing. Staff that are working in Bedwell and Kingston must enter via the side door to the main entrance.

Residents from the Hostel Wing are not permitted to be in other areas of the facility and if they wish to be outside, they will have to maintain social distancing.

We want to also take this time to remind you:

• Rapid Antigen Testing must occur prior to commencing your shift
• PPE must be worn, particularly face shields, goggles and masks when around residents
• Staff or residents, in any wing displaying symptoms must be reported to RN in charge immediately

25 July 2022

Since our last update, we have had additional COVID positive cases within our care home.

As a result, we have had to limit visitation to one nominated visitor across all of Whiddon Laurieton. Visitors must book their visits prior to visiting our care home. All visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, wear an N95 mask and may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time, such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

We also recommend avoiding taking your loved one out where there is a large gathering of people such as clubs and pubs for now.

We will provide a further update if anything changes.