Year: 2022

28 January 2022

We are pleased to advise you that all residents at Whiddon Laurieton are now out of isolation and the outbreak is now considered over. This is welcome news.

This means that we are able to welcome visitors back to all areas of Whiddon Laurieton.

Please note that while we are able to welcome visitors back, we do ask that you follow our guidelines and stay vigilant at this time, as the number of cases of COVID-19 in our local community remains high. Please also note that all visits must be pre-booked.

Please see our guidelines for visiting the Haven and CHAPCA Gardenia areas at this time:

• Residents are permitted to have one fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over only, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements.
• Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued understanding and support and look forward to seeing you soon.

27 January 2022

We wanted to provide you with a further update on Whiddon Beaudesert Star. We have now five residents at Whiddon Beaudesert Star who have tested positive to COVID-19 to date. These residents are located in the Upper Rainbow Wing and their families have been notified.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and have implemented our COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. This includes residents staying in their rooms for now as a precaution. We are also continuing to restrict visitation at this time on the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

We are undertaking testing of all residents and employees today at the advice of the local Public Health Unit. This testing will be repeated in six days. While we await the initial tests results, we are not booking any window visits at this time. We do hope to resume these soon.

Visits for essential caring on compassionate grounds such as end of life are permitted with approval. Please discuss this with the Director Care Services.

Our teams are working hard to keep residents connected with their loved ones via phone and video calls wherever possible. If you would like to book in a video or phone call, please speak to our administration team on 07 5542 4700.

We understand that this is a challenging time. 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 to you once the initial tests results are returned to us.

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

25 January 2021

We would like to provide you with a further update on Whiddon Easton Park.

Sir David Martin

Sir David Martin currently has two residents with COVID-19, who remain in isolation on the advice of the local Public Health Unit. Residents located close by are isolating within their areas. This means that they may exit their rooms, however they must stay in close vicinity to where their room is located. These residents have access to a common area and can enjoy interacting with other non-affected residents.

As per the local Public Health Unit’s advice, we will re-test all residents in this area again this coming Saturday. If all results are negative, this area will be out of lockdown on Sunday morning. This is welcome news.

General update

Pleasingly, all other residents at Whiddon Easton Park who have tested positive to COVID-19 are now considered recovered. Employees continue to wear face masks and eye protection as a precaution, however, they are no longer required to wear gowns and gloves in areas where residents are not required to isolate.

Over the past month, we have seen a number of our employees test positive to Covid-19, resulting in the need for them to isolate at home whilst recovering. We have 25 employees that are currently affected by COVID-19 and we have five employees that are due to return to work tomorrow.

Resident vaccination booster rates across the campus are high and we will continue, where appropriate, to facilitate further booster vaccine clinics onsite. We are strongly encouraging our employees and visitors to have their booster dose also, if they are eligible. It is likely that this will become compulsory for employees in the coming weeks.

We will continue to be see some visitor restrictions across Easton Park, which are in line with advice from the local Public Health Unit. We do ask that you follow our visitation guidelines below in the interest of everyone’s safety, and to ensure that our employees can remain focussed on resident care.

Please note the current visitation guidelines:  

• One fully vaccinated visitor, per resident, per day, is permitted
• Visits are to occur between 9am and 12pm and 1pm and 4pm on weekdays (visits outside of these hours will be at the discretion of management and only when there is employee capacity to do so)
• There will be limits to the numbers of visitors who can book in at each time to enable management of capacity limits
• All visits must be pre-booked
• Where possible, outdoor visits will be encouraged
• Visits cannot not take place in communal areas
• All visitors must wear PPE, including an N95 mask and a face shield, this will be provided to visitors (visitors can re-use the face shield provided on their next visit)
• Only visitors over 12 years old are permitted and all visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors can only undertake a window visit (which must be pre-booked) and must not enter the home, except when the residents is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• Refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• Refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Refrain from visiting if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• Refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• Practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• Check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

With cases of COVID-19 remaining high in our communities, we do ask that you follow these guidelines and remain vigilant.

We thank you for your ongoing understanding and support. We genuinely understand that this has been a challenging time.

We will provide a further update to you next Monday if there are no further changes.

25 January 2022

Since our last update to you, we have had a further two employees test positive to COVID-19. This is considered low risk to residents due to the personal protective equipment our employees have been using throughout the past few weeks. Pleasingly, residents are well and are not showing any symptoms of COVID-19.

We are waiting to hear from the local Public Health Unit about when we may be able to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Grafton. Any decision to isolate or de-isolate is made in close contact with them and we continue to follow their advice.

Our employees continue to complete a rapid antigen test before commencing their shift and 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.

If you would like to book a window visit in, or arrange a phone or video call with your loved one, please contact our team.

We understand that this is a difficult time but we want to reassure you that we are doing everything possible to keep our residents safe, well and connected with loves ones at this time.

We thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

25 January 2022

Since our last update, we are pleased to advise you that the residents who tested positive to COVID-19 are now recovering, or are asymptomatic. These residents are located on the ground floor. We do have a small number of residents who are showing minor symptoms of respiratory illness, but pleasingly, they have returned negative COVID-19 results to date. They are being closely monitored.

Residents on the ground floor who are not affected by COVID-19 are able to enjoy individual time in the gardens if they wish to.

Residents on the first floor of Whiddon Casino are doing well and are not showing any symptoms of the virus. We are waiting for advice from the local Public Health Unit as to when residents on this level may be able to leave their rooms. We do hope that this advice will be forthcoming over the next day or so. Please note that we will need to ask these residents not to access the ground floor for now as a precaution.

For now, visits can be booked on compassionate grounds or for essential caring. If you wish to request a visit under such grounds, please contact the Director Care Services.

We hope that the visitation restrictions can be eased slightly this week for those who wish to visit residents on the first floor. Again, we are awaiting for advice on this from the local Public Health Unit, which we hope will be provided very soon.

Whiddon Casino employees impacted by community transmission of COVID are mostly recovered now and several have completed their isolation and are returning to work. We do have an additional employee who tested positive yesterday, on 24 January. This was acquired from exposure in the community and is considered a very low risk to residents due to the personal protective equipment we have been using throughout the past two weeks.

We know this is a challenging time. Our teams are working hard to keep you connected with your loved ones at this time. If you would like to book in a video or phone call, please talk to our administration team on 02 6661 2300.

We will provide a further update to you later in the week.

25 January 2022

Further to our last update, pleasingly, the resident who had tested positive to COVID-19 via a rapid antigen test has returned a negative PCR result.

We do have a further employee who has tested positive via a rapid antigen test and they will now undertake a PCR test.  The risk is considered low. Our employees continue to wear full PPE, and on the advice of the local Public Health Unit, visitation will remain restricted for now. Visitors are permitted on compassionate grounds or for essential caring. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

Our team is working hard to keep you connected with your loved ones wherever possible, with video and phone calls. It is our highest priority to keep our residents safe, well and connected to loved ones. Please talk to our team if you would like to book in a phone or video call.

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

24 January 2022

Further to our last update to you, a resident in our Rainbow wing has tested positive to COVID-19 this morning. The family of this resident has been notified. Visitation remains restricted for now on the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

We are pleased to continue to offer window visits at this time. If you would like to make a booking for a window visit, or a video or phone call, please speak to our administration team on 07 5542 4700. Our teams are working hard to keep residents connected to their loved ones wherever possible, as we know how important this is. While we continue to take important steps to ensure the safety of residents, please be assured that resident wellbeing remains a strong focus.

Visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds are permitted with approval. Residents are strongly encouraged not to leave the care home for now, again as a precaution at this time.

Please note that all residents eligible to receive a booster vaccine have now had a vaccine. We are also working with the Department of Health to arrange the next clinic to be held on site.

We thank you for your understanding and support at this challenging time.

24 January 2022

Keppel House update

Since our last update to you, a resident in the Merewether wing has tested positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing today. A PCR test will now be undertaken. All other residents tested in the Merewether wing have tested negative to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing today.

Based on the advice of the local Public Health Unit, visitation to Keppel House will remain restricted at this time. Residents are required to continue to stay in their rooms for now, as a precaution. Visits on compassionate grounds will be permitted on approval, and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now.

We understand that this is a challenging time. 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 also know how important it is that we do everything we can to help keep you connected to your loved one at this time. If you would like to book a video or phone call with your loved one at Keppel House, please contact our team.

The local PHU will advise us as to when we can welcome back visitors to Keppel House.  Any decision to isolate or de-isolate is made in close contact with them and we continue to follow their advice.

We will provide another update to you later in the week.

John Read House update

John Read House remains open to visitors, however please note that bookings are required. As a reminder, visits can be booked between 9am and 12pm and 1pm and 4pm on weekdays. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time is restricted to enable management of capacity limits.

The following guidelines are in place:

• Residents may have two visitors per day
• All visitors must wear PPE, including an N95 mask and a face shield, which will be provided to visitors
• Only visitors over 12 years old are permitted and all visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

If you would like to book in a visit to John Read House, or book a video or phone call with your loved one at Keppel House, please contact our team who are working hard to keep residents connected with their loved ones wherever possible at this time.

We thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

24 January 2022

We are very pleased to confirm that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Moree. Rapid antigen testing undertaken on the weekend, pleasingly, returned negative results for all residents tested.

Please note that visits must be pre-booked through our administration team. We also ask visitors to wear an N95 mask and shield at this time as a precautionary measure. Please also note that we are encouraging visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

Please be reminded of the current visitation guidelines:

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over only, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and must take place in residents’ rooms
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued understanding and support and look forward to seeing you soon.

24 January 2022

As it has now been 7 days since an employee at Whiddon Mudgee Pioneer tested positive to COVID-19, and we have not had any further employees test positive since then, we are now the position to again welcome two visitors per resident per day. This is pleasing news.

For now, bookings can be made on weekdays only (please note this does not include the Australia Day public holiday). We hope to open up to weekend visits once we have staff available to supervise the rapid antigen testing.

Visits must be pre-booked through our administration team and visitors must complete a rapid antigen test upon arrival. We also ask visitors to wear an N95 mask and shield at this time as a precautionary measure. Please also note that we are encouraging visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

Our guidelines for visiting at this time:

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and must take place in residents’ rooms
• All visitors must wear a surgical mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued understanding and support.