Author: Belinda Howell

20 June 2022

Hi team,

I really need your help please!

Whiddon has been shortlisted for the AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies Award, for the incredible work that we did with the recent Rapid Testing trials for COVID-19.

We now need 200 Whiddon employees to complete the survey for us to be in the running to win!

To support our submission, could you please complete this 5 minute survey.

As you know, the lead role we played in trialling RAT’s in Aged Care led to a full rollout of subsidised RATs across the entire sector. Plus, our more recent Rapid PCR unit is currently awaiting TGA approval and we continue to push for these units to be deployed in all regional homes as a priority  – an amazing example of innovation in the aged care sector which we would love our people to be recognised for!

I’d really appreciate it if you can please complete the survey now!

Thanks,

Chris

Chris Mamarelis
Whiddon CEO

13 June 2022

Whiddon Beaudesert Star families are invited to attend the next consumer and representative meeting on Wednesday 15 June from 1.30pm – 2.30pm.

The meeting will be held in the Jasmine lounge area. We ask that you please advise us if you wish to attend the meeting as there are capacity limits in this area, in line with COVID-19 guidelines.

1 June 2022

Further to our previous update, we have had an additional resident test positive to COVID-19. The local Public Health Unit have recommended further PCR testing of residents and employees tomorrow. Until the results of these tests are returned to us, the local Public Health Unit have advised that only compassionate or essential visits should be 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.

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 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.

1 June 2022

Further to our previous update, we have had an additional resident test positive to COVID-19. The local Public Health Unit have recommended further PCR testing of employees and residents tomorrow. Until the results of these tests are returned to us, the local Public Health Unit have advised that only compassionate or essential visits should be 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.

31 May 2022

We are pleased to advise you that the COVID-19 outbreak at Whiddon Bourke has been declared over by the local Public Health Unit. This is welcome news. We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support during this time.

As a reminder, please ensure that you pre-book your visits and refrain from visiting if you are unwell. You will be required to wear an N95 mask when you visit and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry.

We thank our employees for their ongoing dedication and work to keep our residents, visitors and employees safe. And again, we thank you for your support and understanding. This is very much appreciated by our team.

31 May 2022

We are pleased to advise you that the COVID-19 outbreak at Whiddon Wee Waa has been declared over by the local Public Health Unit. This is welcome news. We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support during this time.

As a reminder, please ensure that you pre-book your visits and refrain from visiting if you are unwell. You will be required to wear an N95 mask when you visit and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry. Once again, we thank you for your support and understanding.

We thank our employees for their ongoing dedication and work to keep our residents, visitors and employees safe. And again, we thank you for your support and understanding. This is very much appreciated by our team.

31 May 2022

We have had an additional 7 residents test positive to COVID-19 and are conducting further COVID-19 testing today and Thursday as directed by the local Public Health Unit.

For now, visitation remain restricted to one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. We do ask you to consider delaying your visit for now if possible. If you would like to book in a video call with your loved one, please speak with our team.

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.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and are following their advice.

We want to thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

31 May 2022

COVID-19 Update

We are very pleased to advise you that the COVID-19 outbreak at Taylor House has been declared over by the local Public Health Unit. This means that all areas of Whiddon Easton Park are considered ‘green zones’ and residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over, plus two children under 12 years per day.  Please note that visits must be pre-booked and the following applies:

• Visitors aged 12 years and over must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visitors must wear an N95 mask and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to get a booster vaccine if they are eligible for one
• 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 an outdoor area. Visits should not be in any inside communal areas
• Visitors must check-in through our visitor check-in system
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to receive the 2022 seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available
• 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

Welcome to Sally Renshaw, Regional Manager Residential (West)

Sally Renshaw is now overseeing the operations of Easton Park, working closely with, and supporting the Director Care Services at our care homes at Easton Park. She brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to Whiddon and we welcome her to the Whiddon Easton Park team.

We thank all of our families for their understanding, cooperation and support during this challenging time.

30 May 2022

We have had six employees at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young test positive to COVID-19. Two of these employees had not attended the care home during the time that they may have been infectious. In response, we have implemented our COVID-19 management plan to ensure all precautionary measures are in place. We have not had any residents test positive to COVID-19.

Visitation is still permitted for now. Visitors must undertake a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry to Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young and wear an N95 mask and face shield.

Employees must continue to wear N95/p2 masks and face shields/goggles and complete a rapid antigen test unless exempt. 

We thank you for your understanding and support.

30 May 2022

We wanted to provide an update on Whiddon Kelso. We have now had 11 residents test positive to COVID-19 (in the Kingston Wing) of Whiddon Kelso. There were no new cases today, which is pleasing. All other areas are not impacted, however, as a precaution, we are undertaking regular testing of all residents at the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

For now, we continue to restrict visitation to the Kingston Wing to 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 now. 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.