Update to Whiddon Wee Waa families

16 May 2022

Further to our last update, our COVID-19 outbreak management plan remains in place to ensure that all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. We have had one further resident who has tested positive. All residents are doing well.

Pleasingly, we have not had any further employees test positive to COVID-19.

As per the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we continue to undertake ongoing COVID-19 testing of residents. We are awaiting the test results from last week and further testing has been completed today.

Please be reminded that we have restricted visitation to one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. 

All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Wee Waa 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 following their advice. 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 understanding and support and will provide a further update later in the week.

Update to Whiddon Grafton families

16 May 2022

We wanted to inform you that we have had a resident and an employee from Whiddon Grafton test positive to COVID-19. In response, we have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We do ask you to consider delaying your visit for now if you can. Please note that we have restricted visitation to one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. 

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.

Residents are currently staying in their rooms as a precaution at this time and we are strongly encouraging residents not to leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure. We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice.

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 understanding and support and will provide a further update later in the week.

Update to Whiddon Bourke families

16 May 2022

We have had two residents at Whiddon Bourke test positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing. We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure that all necessary precautions are in place. Please be assured that if your loved one tests positive to COVID-19, you would be contacted directly.

Residents are isolating in their room for now as a precaution and we will be working closely with the local Public Health Unit. We have restricted visitation to allow for one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked.

Visitors will be required to wear an N95 mask and face shield. Residents are also strongly encouraged not to leave the care home at this time, as a precaution.

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 will provide a further update later in the week.

We thank you for your understanding and support.

Update to Whiddon Largs families

16 May 2022

Further to our update on Saturday to advise you that a number of residents and employees tested positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Largs, please note that all residents will now undertake a PCR test today, as directed by the local Public Health Unit.

This follows rapid antigen testing of residents on Saturday. Please be assured that if your loved one has, or does, test positive to COVID-19, you would be contacted directly by the Registered Nurse on duty.

For now, we have restricted visitation to allow one visitor per resident at this time (for compassionate or essential visits only). These visits must be pre-booked. All visitors are required to undertake rapid antigen testing as a condition of entry to Whiddon Largs and will be asked to wear an N95 mask and face shield, which will be provided upon entry to the home.

We are continuing to work closely with the local PHU and will provide a further update once we have received the results of the PCR tests. We do ask for your patience at this time when contacting us, and if possible, please limit calls to essential calls only at this time. Please be assured that our team will contact you directly to discuss any concerns.

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

Update to Whiddon Kyogle families

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.

Update to Whiddon Easton Park employees

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.

Update to Whiddon Mudgee Pioneer families

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.

Update to Arthur Webb Court families

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.

 

Update to Whiddon Beaudesert Star families

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.

Update to Whiddon Redhead families

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.