Author: Belinda Howell

16 December 2021

Further to our update yesterday, we wanted to highlight that while we are able to welcome visitors that are not fully vaccinated, the following rules apply:

• Visits with loved ones must take place outdoors if a visitor is not fully vaccinated
• Visitor must wear a mask at all times
• Visits must be pre-booked
• All visitors must have a rapid antigen test on arrival and sign-in
• Please ensure that you practice social distancing at all times

It is important that we continue to stay vigilant and all take steps to help keep everyone safe.

We thank you for your understanding and support.

15 December 2021

You would have seen that a number of COVID-19 restrictions in NSW were eased today. We wanted to let you know what this means for visiting Whiddon Easton Park.

Under these changes, we are now able to welcome visitors that are not fully vaccinated. However, visitors must continue to wear masks at all times when visiting, take a rapid antigen test upon arrival and pre-book their visits. We also ask that you ensure:

• Visits take place in residents’ rooms only, or outdoors. Please do not meet in common areas or visit other residents that you haven’t booked in to see. We ask that if you are not fully vaccinated, that your visit takes place outdoors.
• Please ensure that you check in when visiting, using the Service NSW QR code AND our visitor sign-in system
• Please refrain from visiting if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting a COVID-19 test result, have been to any locations or venues of concern, or are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements).

As a reminder, Taylor House is currently not permitting visitors. It is expected that we will be able to welcome back visitors there on Tuesday 21 December. If anything changes, we will let you know.

It is important that we continue to stay vigilant and all take steps to help keep everyone safe.

We thank you for your understanding and support.

14 December 2021

Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases identified in the Hunter region, as a precaution, we will be introducing rapid antigen testing at Whiddon Largs, Whiddon Belmont and Whiddon Redhead for all visitors, from today.

This testing adds an important, additional layer of protection at this time. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to the time you are booked in to visit, to take the test. We do appreciate this, as it does help to keep everyone in our family safe, which is our highest priority.

We wish to remind you of the following when you visit:

• Please wear a surgical mask (supplied by Whiddon) at all times
• Bookings are essential
• Visits are to be in residents’ rooms only – please do not meet in common areas, do not visit other residents that you haven’t booked in to see, or stop to chat in corridors or the cafe etc. We know that this is difficult, but it is an important safety measure at this time
• Please ensure that you check in when visiting, using the Service NSW QR code AND our visitor sign-in system
• Please refrain from visiting if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting a COVID-19 test result, have been to any locations or venues of concern, or are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements).

We thank you for your understanding and support. We do know that this is a challenging time and genuinely appreciate you taking the important steps above, to help us protect our residents, visitors and employees.

14 December 2021

With the festive season just around the corner, we kindly request that you please let us know if you will be taking your loved one home for Christmas Day, or overnight, so arrangements can be made, and we can help make this experience as enjoyable as possible for you and your loved one.

We also want to let you know that two family members are invited to enjoy either morning or afternoon tea in your loved one’s room on Christmas Day. Please note that relevant COVID-19 screening requirements will apply.  Please confirm with us if you would like to attend, so we can book this in for you.

Thank you, Whiddon Laurieton

13 December 2021

Following our last update to you on 10 December, we are pleased to let you know that we have received the COVID-19 test results from further testing on Saturday of the employees and residents in Taylor House that were identified as contacts. These all produced negative results, which is welcome news.

Residents and employees have been tested again today. If all results are negative, we will move to 72-hour testing, which would take place this Thursday and Sunday. This is in line with the advice of the local Public Health Unit.

If all results continue to be negative, we will come out of lockdown in Taylor House on 21 December.

For now, as a precaution, visitation is still restricted to Taylor House. We do understand that this is a challenging time. Our teams will continue to help residents stay connected to their loves ones wherever possible.

We continue to conduct rapid antigen testing of employees at the start of their shift. This adds an important layer of protection at this time, in addition to our robust screening protocols.

We will provide a further update to you later in the week, or earlier, if anything changes.

Thank you again for your support and understanding.

13 December 2021

With the festive season just around the corner, we are asking you to please notify us as soon as possible if you plan to take your loved one out for Christmas. This allows our team to prepare for residents going out, so we can help to make this experience as enjoyable as possible.

Also, we do remind you that visits must be pre-booked, including on weekends. This is important as we need to ensure that there is only a certain amount of visitors at one time, and that all families have the opportunity to visit. We have one hour bookings, please do call our team to make your booking. This is much appreciated.

10 December 2021

Following our last update to you on 8 December, we are pleased to let you know that additional COVID-19 testing undertaken yesterday of employees and residents in Taylor House that were identified as contacts, have returned negative results. This is welcome news once again.

At the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we are required to conduct further testing of these residents and employees as a precaution, every second day.

At a meeting with the Public Health Unit today, they advised us that visitation to Easton Park must be restricted until Tuesday 21 December. We understand that this is challenging, but it is an important precaution at this time.

Please note that while visitors are permitted at Arthur Webb Court, Easton Park Units and Sir David Martin, they are not permitted to go between other care homes on our campus for now.

As mentioned, the Public Health Unit has confirmed that there is no requirement for employees at Taylor House to self-isolate at this stage and as such all employees not directly impacted can continue to come to work and attend their normal shifts.

Christmas party postponed

In light of the situation, it is with sadness that we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Christmas party. At this stage, we have tentatively rescheduled this for 14 February 2022. We know this is disappointing news, however, it is important that we take this step, with the safety and wellbeing of everyone at Easton Park, our highest priority. We do look forward to delivering this exciting event to you in the new year. We know it will be a great celebration.

We will provide a further update to you next week. If anything changes, we will update you sooner.

We thank you for all you do, for your response to this situation and your understanding and support.

10 December 2021

Following our last update to you on 8 December, we are pleased to let you know that additional COVID-19 testing undertaken yesterday of employees and residents in Taylor House that were identified as contacts, have returned negative results. This is welcome news once again.

At the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we are required to conduct further testing of these residents and employees as a precaution. It is likely that we will get the results of the next tests on Sunday and if so, we will provide another update then.

For now, as a precaution, visitation is still restricted to Taylor House. At a meeting with the Public Health Unit today, they have advised us that this restriction needs to be in place until Tuesday 21 December. We understand that this is a challenging time. Our teams will continue to help residents stay connected to their loves ones wherever possible.

Please note that while visitors are permitted at Arthur Webb Court, Easton Park Units and Sir David Martin, they are not permitted to go between other care homes on our campus for now. Any visits to these care homes must be pre-booked. 

We continue to conduct rapid antigen testing of employees at the start of their shift. This adds an important layer of protection at this time, in addition to our robust screening protocols.

We will provide a further update to you once the results of the additional testing has come through. If anything changes, we will update you sooner.

Thank you again for your support and understanding.

8 December 2021

We want to clarify that there have not been any cases of COVID-19 at Whiddon Redhead.

We sent you a message yesterday as a matter of courtesy, as we wanted to let you know that a Whiddon Easton Park (South West Sydney) employee had tested positive to COVID-19.

We have received feedback that this message may have caused some confusion and we do apologise if this is the case. We want to reassure you that there are no cases of COVID-19 at Whiddon Redhead. The message related to our Easton Park (South West Sydney) aged care home only.

8 December 2021

We are pleased to let you know that the results of the PCR tests taken by employees and residents at Taylor House who were identified as contacts of the employee with COVID-19, are all negative.

While further testing of these employees and residents will be required in the coming days, this is welcome news. We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit in managing our response and following their recommendations.

Our COVID-19 response plan is robust and ensures we prioritise the safety of residents and employees. The Public Health Unit has confirmed there is no requirement for employees at Taylor House to self-isolate at this stage and as such all employees not directly impacted can continue to come to work and attend their normal shifts.

Rapid Antigen Testing

We strongly recommend that all employees take a rapid antigen testing  prior to entering the building at the start of their shift. This adds an important layer of protection at this time, in addition to our robust screening protocols. Testing stations will be set up in each care home.

Main kitchen and stores employees will need to take their tests in the testing station outside the kitchen. Laundry and maintenance employees will test at a station set up outside the laundry.

All employees, across all shifts will need to test in the presence of another employee and must show them their test result before being able to enter their workplace.

Other important information

• Whilst the above is good news it is important that you continue to monitor communications to keep well informed. For those of you that may have a secondary employer, in particular in Aged Care we recommend that you speak with your manager at that service about the situation and seek guidance in relation to attending shifts at their service.
• You must not work in more than one site at Easton Park or more than one residential aged care facility
• For now, as previously communicated the Public Health Unit has not recommended employees at Taylor House to self-isolate and as such all employees not directly impacted can continue to come to work and attend their normal shifts.
• Employees are reminded that they must check in upon entry as per the NSW Directive. Please also ensure that you use you HumanForce app to sign in when you arrive at work. This also assists us to monitor who was on site at any given time as part of any contact tracing requirements.
• All employees must wear face shields in all of our care homes
• Employee smoking areas will be designated for each building, which had been in place previously
• This is a timely reminder to all of us to obtain our COVID-19 Booster vaccination if we are eligible to do so. Booster shots are recommended for those who received their second COVID-19 Vaccination 6 months ago. Please send your evidence of your Booster vaccine to payroll@whiddon.com.au

What this update means for Sir David Martin, Arthur Webb Court and Easton Park Units
We are able to welcome back visitors to these care homes and resident activities can now resume. Visitors will only be able to attend one of these care homes as they are not permitted to go between other care homes on our campus for now. Bookings for visits are essential and there are important guidelines that our visitors must follow.

Next steps
We will provide a further update to you once the results of the additional testing has come through, which is likely to be on Friday. If anything changes, we will update you sooner.

We do hope this update provides you with some reassurance and we genuinely thank you for your understanding, support and work you are doing.