Year: 2022

26 April 2022

We have had an employee at Whiddon Casino test positive to COVID-19. We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We’re pleased to note that after conducting our risk assessments, we have identified the risk of transmission as low as a result of PPE Compliance and minimal time exposure. In addition, the employee did test negative to their Rapid Antigen Test prior to starting their shift.

Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care home. We are conducting Rapid Antigen Testing to the Ground Floor Cedars West wing as an extra precaution. For now, we are requesting that visitations occur for essential reasons only.

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 support and understanding.

26 April 2022

We are pleased to advise that the current COVID outbreak at Whiddon Moree has concluded.

Residents are now able to de-isolate from their rooms and move freely around the care home. We will also continue to monitor all residents daily.

Visitors are free to visit their loved ones, however, as advised by the Public Health unit, will be required to complete screening and a rapid antigen test prior to entry to the home, as well as wear full PPE.

We thank you for your ongoing care and assistance in helping to limit the impact of this recent outbreak.

26 April 2022

Firstly, we wanted to thank our families for your patience and understanding at this time, and for ensuring that visits to Whiddon Wingham are pre-booked.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit (PHU) and, for now, Whiddon Wingham remains in lockdown until 28th April when residents will be reviewed.

Visitors are limited to one visitor per person (partner-in-care), and must complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, as well as wear an N95 face mask and shield. Full PPE may be required in some areas.

Primrose Residents are able to de-isolate from their rooms and move freely around their Wing if they remain COVID negative and asymptomatic.

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. Our teams are working hard to keep residents connected to their loved ones as we know how important this is.

Once again, we thank you for your patience and will provide a further update soon.

22 April 2022

We wanted to provide an update to you on Whiddon Kyogle. We currently have five residents and two employees who have tested positive to COVID-19. We are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and are following their advice. We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

Residents may have one visitor at this time (a partner-in-care). That is, residents may nominate one consistent visitor that may continue to visit for the duration of the lockdown. Visitors must complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry and wear an N95 face mask and shield. Full PPE may be required in some areas. Please speak to the Director of Care Services, or Deputy Director Care Services to request a visit on compassionate grounds. All visits must be pre-booked.

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. Our teams are working hard to keep residents connected to their loved ones as we know how important this is.

We thank you for your support and understanding.

21 April 2022

We wanted to provide you with an update on the COVID-19 situation at Whiddon Easton Park. At least two thirds of residents who tested positive to COVID-19 have now recovered. This is good news and we hope that the remaining affected residents recover quickly over the coming days.

Please be reassured, that we are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unit who provide us with guidance on the management of this outbreak.

Despite the outbreak, all residents may continue to have one visitor per day. In the affected ‘Red Zone areas’, this visitor must be a consistent person for the duration that the area is determined as a red zone. For all ‘Amber Zones’, there can be one visitor per day, however this visitor can be a different person each day.

We have had been offered support from the Australian Defence Force. They will be attending our site and will be dedicated to areas where there are a number of affected residents and/or employees. Whiddon welcomes their visit and support.

As a reminder, anyone entering our care homes is required to wear an N95 mask and eye protection. Your mask must cover your nose and should not be removed whilst inside any of our buildings. We understand that wearing PPE may be inconvenient, however, it is an important safety measure at this time and we thank you for your cooperation with this.

Employees must complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Please do not come to work if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.

As always, we thank you for all you do in keeping everyone in our family safe.

21 April 2022

We wanted to provide you with an update on the COVID-19 situation at Whiddon Easton Park. At least two thirds of residents who tested positive to COVID-19 have now recovered.  This is good news and we hope that the remaining affected residents recover quickly over the coming days.

Please be reassured, that we are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unit who provide us with guidance on the management of this outbreak.

Despite the outbreak, all residents may continue to have one visitor per day. In the affected ‘Red Zone areas’, this visitor must be a consistent person for the duration that the area is determined as a red zone.

For all ‘Amber Zones’, there can be one visitor per day, however this visitor can be a different person each day.

Please note that you will be advised when booking in your visit if the area in which your loved one lives is a red zone.

We have had been offered support from the Australian Defence Force. They will be attending our site and will be dedicated to areas where there are a number of affected residents and/or employees. Whiddon welcomes their visit and support.

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 thank you for your patience, understanding and ongoing support through this challenging time.

We thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

21 April 2022

In pleasing news, it is expected that D-wing will be out of isolation from 23 April, if no further positive cases of COVID-19 are identified. This is welcome news.

Please note that all visitors will still be required to wear a N95 mask and eye protection such as a face shield at this time, and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry.

As a reminder, all visits must be pre-booked, especially on the weekends and public holidays, and limited to between 9am and 5pm whenever possible.

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

20 April 2022

A resident at Arthur Webb Court has tested positive to COVID-19 this morning. We have activated our outbreak management plan and taking all precautions to limit potential spread of the virus. The family of the affected resident has been notified of this result and the resident currently is well, with only minor symptoms.

Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care homes.

Until we have a better understanding if this is an isolated case, we ask that you do not visit for 24 hours until all swab results for other residents are available. Following this, all visits must be pre-booked and a rapid antigen test must be completed as a condition of entry.

When visiting please ensure that you:

• wear an N95 mask and eye protection such as a face shield at all times, which will be supplied to you
• 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 thank you for your understanding and support at this time.

20 April 2022

We wanted to provide a further update on Whiddon Beaudesert Star. We have an additional four residents at Whiddon Beaudesert Star who have tested positive to COVID-19, in the Clayfield wing.

For now, visitation to Clayfield A wing is limited to on compassionate grounds, or for essential caring. Please speak with the Director Care Services for approval of such visits.

As a reminder, all visits must be booked. Visitors must complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry and wear an N95 face mask. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell, or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result.

We strongly encourage all visitors to have a COVID-19 booster dose if eligible, and remind you to stay vigilant at this time by practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing. Please do not meet in common areas of the care home.

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.

19 April 2022

Further to our last update, pleasingly, we have not had any additional residents in the Gosford Wing test positive to COVID-19 over the last 3 days. We will review the situation with the local Public Health Unit this week and hope to be in a position to relax some of the restrictions later this week.

For now, visits to the Gosford Wing are limited to one visitor per resident. That is, each resident may nominate one consistent visitor that may continue to visit for the duration of the lockdown on compassionate grounds only for now. Visitors to the Gosford Wing will be required to wear full PPE when visiting.

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

We ask that you please remain vigilant and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene when visiting. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell and do not meet in common areas. All visits must be must be pre-booked.

We thank you for your understanding and support at this time and will provide a further update later in the week.