Year: 2022

25 May 2022

Further to our previous update, we have now had three residents test positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Belmont. These residents are located in Blocks 1, 3 and 4. In response, we have implemented our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all precautionary measures are in place. As per the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we will undertake ongoing COVID-19 testing of residents at this time, as a precaution.

For now, we have restricted visitation to one nominated ‘partner-in-care’ visitor per resident to all areas of Whiddon Belmont at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked and can only be booked in on weekdays at this time.

All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Belmont and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home.

Our teams can support you to stay connected via video and phone calls where possible. We also have the Whiddon Connect app that you can download and book a video call in with our team.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and follow their advice. We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We thank you for your understanding and support. As always, please speak to one of our employees if you have any questions about any of the above.

25 May 2022

Further to our previous update, we have had two additional residents and an employee in the Kingston Wing of Whiddon Kelso test positive to COVID-19.  All other areas are not impacted, however, as a precaution, we are undertaking rapid antigen testing of all residents this afternoon, at the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

In addition to the five COVID-19 positive residents in Kingston, there are a small number of negative residents in Kingston who are also choosing to self isolate in their rooms until the outbreak is over. This is indicated by a ‘self isolating’ sign on the doors of those residents that have made this choice.

For now, we have restricted visitation to the Kingston Wing to allow one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. This does not impact visitation in other areas. We are also limiting visitation to Whiddon Kelso to weekdays only for at least the next ten days. This includes to all areas.

Employees must continue to wear N95 mask and face shields routinely, and full PPE when caring for a COVID-19 positive resident. They must also complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times.

After completing a rapid antigen test, staff working in Kingston and Bedwell are to walk around the outside of the building and enter Whiddon Kelso from the door to the side of the main entrance. Employees must have tea breaks in the designated break area for the Wing you are working in only.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding and support.

25 May 2022

Further to our previous update, we have had two additional residents and an employee in the Kingston Wing of Whiddon Kelso test positive to COVID-19.  All other areas are not impacted, however, as a precaution, we are undertaking rapid antigen testing of all residents this afternoon, at the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

For now, we have restricted visitation to the Kingston Wing to allow one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. This does not impact visitation in other areas. We are also limiting visitation to Whiddon Kelso to weekdays only for at least the next ten days. This includes to all areas.

All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Kelso and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home. All visits to Whiddon Kelso must be pre-booked.

We ask for visitors to monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms and remind you to please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding, and will provide you with a further update during the week.

25 May 2022

Further to our previous update, at the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we will be undertaking additional PCR testing of residents at Whiddon Grafton this Friday. Currently, we have five residents and two employees who have tested positive to COVID.

Pending these results, and no further cases of COVID-19, we hope to return to our visitation arrangements that were in place before this outbreak.

We thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. As always, please speak to one of our employees if you have any questions about any of the above.

25 May 2022

In response to a small number of employees and residents in the Violet Wing of Whiddon Beaudesert Star testing positive to COVID-19, all residents in this area are being asked to stay within the Violet Wing for now as a precaution. The local Public Health Unit have advised that all residents and employees at Whiddon Beaudesert Star will need to be tested for COVID-19 via PCR testing, as a precaution. Until the results of these tests are returned to us, Public Health Unit have advised only compassionate or essential visits are permitted at this time (which must be pre-booked).

Employees must wear an N95 mask and face shield, and full PPE in the Violet Wing. They must also complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times.

We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all precautionary measures are in place and continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and are following their advice.

We thank you for your dedication and support during this time.

24 May 2022

Further to our previous update, the local Public Health Unit have advised that all residents and employees at Whiddon Beaudesert Star will need to be tested for COVID-19 via PCR testing, as a precaution. Until the results of these tests are returned to us, Public Health Unit have advised only compassionate or essential visits are permitted at this time (which must be pre-booked).

We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all precautionary measures are in place and continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and are following their advice.

All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Beaudesert and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home.

We want to thank you for your understanding and patience during this time, and we will provide a further update once we have received the PCR test results.

24 May 2022

Please note that Quality Assessors from the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission are onsite at Whiddon Maclean from today until Friday.

If you would like to speak with the assessors that are onsite to provide any feedback on the quality of your loved one’s care, you can make a booking to do so by calling our care home on (02) 6603 2600.

Alternatively, you can contact the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission direct on 1800 951 822 and select option 2 when prompted.

For more information visit agedcarequality.gov.au

24^th May 2022

Further to our last update, we continue to have a number of residents test positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Largs and we are working closely with the Public Health Unit (PHU) to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.

Further PCR testing was completed yesterday for residents who are currently testing negative to Rapid Antigen Tests and we are currently waiting on results.  Please be assured that if your loved one has, or does, test positive to COVID-19, you will be contacted directly by the Registered Nurse on duty.

Residents who tested positive at the beginning of the outbreak will shortly be reviewed and we will await further instruction from the PHU.

Visitation continues to be restricted to one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only).  As a reminder, you can call us Mon-Fri to book in partner-in-care visits which are available  between 8am and 3.30pm on weekdays. Partners-in care will need to wear full PPE and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, and be escorted to the resident’s balcony for the visit.

We are also welcoming Australian Defence Force personnel to Whiddon Largs to provide us with additional support during this time.

We are continuing to work closely with the local PHU and will provide a further updates once we have received the results of the PCR tests. 

We do ask for your patience at this time when contacting us, and if possible, please limit calls to essential calls only at this time. Please be assured that our team will contact you directly to discuss any concerns.

We understand that this is a challenging time and we thank you for your ongoing support understanding.

23 May 2022

Please be advised that we have had a small number of employees, and a resident in the Violet Wing of Whiddon Beaudesert Star test positive to COVID-19. At the advice of the local Public Health Unit, all residents in the Violet Wing are being asked to stay within the Violet Wing for now as a precaution. PCR testing of residents in the Violet Wing will be undertaken as soon as possible. Please be assured that if your loved one tests positive to COVID-19, you would be contacted directly by our clinical team.

For now, as per the advice of the local Public Health Unit, only compassionate visits such as end-of-life visits are permitted in the Violet Wing.

All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Beaudesert and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home. All visits to Whiddon Beaudesert must be pre-booked.

We ask all visitors to monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms and remind visitors to please refrain from visiting if they are unwell.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding, and will provide you with a further update during the week.

23 May 2022

Please be advised that we have had a resident test positive to COVID-19  at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young.

As this is considered low risk, there are no changes to visitation, resident activities or outings, unless there are any changes to the situation.

Visits must be pre-booked and visitors must complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, and wear an N95 mask which will be supplied.

Employees must continue to wear N95 mask and face shields routinely, and full PPE when caring for a COVID-19 positive resident, close contact or suspected positive resident. They must also complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times.

We thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.