Author: Belinda Howell

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.

24 January 2022

We are very pleased to share that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Belmont

We genuinely thank you for your amazing efforts in keeping our residents, and each other, safe.

While this is very welcome news, we do ask visitors to follow our visitation guidelines and remain vigilant at this time. With increasing numbers of COVID-19 in our local communities, it is important that we all take steps to help keep everyone safe. Please also note that we are encouraging visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE and complete a rapid antigen test when you arrive on shift. Social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Please also monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if you are unwell.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 4 months ago.

24 January 2022

We are pleased to advise you that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Greenstone Lodge from tomorrow, 25 January 2022.

While this is welcome news, we do ask that you follow our visitation guidelines and remain vigilant at this time. With increasing numbers of COVID-19 in our local communities, it is important that we all take steps to help keep everyone safe.

Please note that this applies to Greenstone Lodge and Narraburra Lodge has remained open to visitors.

Visits must be pre-booked through our administration team and visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test upon arrival. 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 and we look forward to seeing you soon.

24 January 2022

We are pleased to advise you that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Belmont from tomorrow, 25 January 2022. While this is welcome news, we do ask that you follow our visitation guidelines and remain vigilant at this time. With increasing numbers of COVID-19 in our local communities, it is important that we all take steps to help keep everyone safe.

Visits must be pre-booked through our administration team and visitors must complete a rapid antigen test upon arrival at Whiddon Belmont. 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 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 we look forward to seeing you soon.