Year: 2022

16 May 2022

We wanted to inform you that we have had a resident and an employee from Whiddon Grafton test positive to COVID-19. In response, we have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We do ask you to consider delaying your visit for now if you can. Please note that we have restricted visitation to one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. 

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

Residents are currently staying in their rooms as a precaution at this time and we are strongly encouraging residents not to leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure. We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following 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 and will provide a further update later in the week.

16 May 2022

We have had two residents at Whiddon Bourke test positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing. We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure that all necessary precautions are in place. Please be assured that if your loved one tests positive to COVID-19, you would be contacted directly.

Residents are isolating in their room for now as a precaution and we will be working closely with the local Public Health Unit. We have restricted visitation to allow for one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked.

Visitors will be required to wear an N95 mask and face shield. Residents are also strongly encouraged not to leave the care home at this time, as a precaution.

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 will provide a further update later in the week.

We thank you for your understanding and support.

16 May 2022

Further to our update on Saturday to advise you that a number of residents and employees tested positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Largs, please note that all residents will now undertake a PCR test today, as directed by the local Public Health Unit.

This follows rapid antigen testing of residents on Saturday. Please be assured that if your loved one has, or does, test positive to COVID-19, you would be contacted directly by the Registered Nurse on duty.

For now, we have restricted visitation to allow one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Largs and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home.

We are continuing to work closely with the local PHU and will provide a further update 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.

14th May 2022

Please be advised that we have had 2 residents, 2 staff and 1 visitor test positive to Rapid Antigen Tests for COVID-19.

We have activated our COVID-19 response plan and we are working with the Public Health Unit  to ensure all necessary precautions for the safety of our residents and staff, including daily Rapid Antigen Tests and PPE.

For now, we have restricted visitations to allow one visitor per resident into our care home (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked.

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

We will provide a further update once we receive results of PCR tests that have been conducted.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding, and will provide you with a further update once we know more.

13 May 2022 

Since our last update, we have had an employee test positive to COVID-19 and continue to work with the Public Health Unit to manage the situation. In pleasing news, we no longer have any residents testing positive to COVID-19.

As a reminder, all employees and visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home.

We thank you for your ongoing support and assistance.

13 May 2022 

Since our last update, we have had an employee test positive to COVID-19 and continue to work with the Public Health Unit to manage the situation. In pleasing news, we no longer have any residents testing positive to COVID-19.

As a reminder, all employees and visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home.

Please ensure all visits are pre-booked by contacting our care home directly.

We thank you for your ongoing support and assistance.

12 May 2022

Since our last update, we have had an additional two residents at Whiddon Wee Waa test positive to COVID-19. We do also have residents currently isolating as a result of being a close contact, and families have been notified of this. In light of the situation, we have been able to identify the source of transmission and are confident with our robust systems and quick processes implemented early on, we have been able to reduce the spread within our care home.

We are currently conducting additional COVID testing and are working very close with the Public Health Unit to manage the situation.

Employees will continue wearing full PPE and visitations will remain to one visitor per resident into our care home (for compassionate or essential visits only).  These visits must be pre-booked.

We thank you for your ongoing hard work in caring for our residents.

12 May 2022

Since our last update, we have had an additional two residents at Whiddon Wee Waa test positive to COVID-19. We do also have residents currently isolating as a result of being a close contact, and families have been notified of this. In light of the situation, we have been able to identify the source of transmission and are confident with our robust systems and quick processes implemented early on, we have been able to reduce the spread within our care home.

We are currently conducting additional COVID testing and are working very close with the Public Health Unit to manage the situation.

Our employees will continue wearing full PPE and visitations will remain to one visitor per resident into our care home (for compassionate or essential visits only).  These visits must be pre-booked.

When visiting please ensure that you:

• wear an N95 mask and face shield at all times, which will be supplied to you. In some areas, you may be required to wear full PPE
• stay vigilant and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene
• do not meet in any common areas
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are:
  – fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and you have received a negative rapid antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in NSW.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding, and will provide you with a further update once we know more.

12 May 2022

We wanted to provide you an update on Whiddon Easton Park. Since our update last week, we have had a further two residents test positive for Covid-19. Please be reassured that if your loved one tests positive we will contact you directly.

Whilst Covid-19 remains a focus for us, we are also preparing ourselves and our residents for Flu season. Covid vaccinations at our care homes are high, and we have been working with our local doctors to complete Influenza vaccinations for both residents and staff.  As we have done in the past, we will continue to work closely with our local Public Health Unit to manage any respiratory illnesses throughout the Flu season.

As a reminder, visitation must be booked in advance.

When visiting please ensure that you:

• wear an N95 mask and face shield at all times, which will be supplied to you. In some areas, you may be required to wear full PPE
• pre-book your visit
• stay vigilant and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene
• do not meet in any common areas
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are:
  – fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and you have received a negative rapid antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in NSW.

We would also like to advise you that there has been a change in Regional Managers for Whiddon Easton Park.  Sharon Fletcher will be moving to a different position at Whiddon and will be replaced by Sally Renshaw. Sally is an experienced Manager who has recently returned to Whiddon where she will continue to support the Director of Care Services at Easton Park. Sally can be contacted through the Customer Liaison Team on 1300 738 388.

11 May 2022

Since our last update, we have had an additional employee and 1x resident at Whiddon Wee Waa test positive to COVID-19. We do also have residents currently isolating as a result of being a close contact, and families have been notified of this.

We are currently working with the Public Health Unit and are putting in necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our residents and staff, including daily Rapid Antigen Tests and PPE.

For now, we have restricted visitations to allow one visitor per resident into our care home (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked.

All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Wee Waa and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell and do not meet in common areas.

We wil provide a further update once we receive results of PCR tests that have been conducted.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding, and will provide you with a further update once we know more.