Author: Belinda Howell

We’re pleased to introduce the newest report in our True Colours reporting series. This new document explains Whiddon’s Board, Leadership Team and Governance structure.

Our True Colours series are consumer-facing reports, developed to provide you with additional information regarding our performance. Through the Royal Commission, recommendations were made in regard to increasing transparency about the information that matters to you. We have reviewed these recommendations and combined it with our own insights gained from the various resident, client and family surveys conducted, to now bring you True Colours reports.

The information we are providing to you includes our levels of compliance with the various regulatory standards, workforce data, pricing and financial information and customer feedback, along with a host of additional focus areas.

Read our new report, which provides information on Whiddon’s Governance structure, risk management framework and Board structure, and introduces you to our Board and Executive teams, by clicking this link: Our Board, Leadership Team and Governance structure explained

17 April 2022

Several employees at Whiddon Maclean have tested positive to COVID-19. We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. As a precaution, we will be now be undertaking COVID-19 testing of all residents. Please be assured that if your loved one has tested positive to COVID, we will contact you directly.

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. As a precaution,  visitors are limited to on compassionate grounds and for essential caring at this time, until the results of the tests have been returned. We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and will review the situation over the next few days and provide a further update then.

Employees must wear an N95 mask and face shield, complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. If you are feeling unwell please refrain from coming in to work.  

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 support and understanding.

17 April 2022

Several employees at Whiddon Maclean have tested positive to COVID-19. We have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. As a precaution, we will be now be undertaking COVID-19 testing of all residents. Please be assured that if your loved one has tested positive to COVID, we will contact you directly.

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. As a precaution,  visitors are limited to on compassionate grounds and for essential caring at this time, until the results of the tests have been returned. We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and will review the situation over the next few days and provide a further update then.

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 support and understanding.

22 April 2022

As we head into the colder months, Whiddon’s flu vaccination program will be available again to all employees. Getting vaccinated against influenza is the best way of protecting you, your loved ones and the wonderful people we care for from the flu.

This year it is even more important. We are all more vulnerable to influenza due to lower recent exposure to the virus and lower uptake of influenza vaccines. With international borders reopening, it’s likely we will see more influenza in 2022.

Influenza vaccination prepares your immune system to fight influenza viruses. The immunity provided by the vaccine can protect you from becoming sick if you get exposed to influenza in the community. This immunity can also reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick.

Older Australians, the people we are providing direct care to, are at the highest risk from influenza. The flu is dangerous and often deadly for older people. Our priorities are to keep our residents and employees healthy and this is one way we can help achieve this.

Is the flu vaccine mandatory?

For the last two years, the flu vaccine has been mandated for all employees and visitors to aged care homes. Given the increased risk this year, and heightened COVID-19 risk in our communities, while it has not yet been mandated, we expect that it will be.  You can prepare for this by having your flu vaccine as soon as it is available to you.

Keep your eye out for details on flu vaccine clinics at your service, which will be forthcoming soon. If you choose to get the vaccination externally, you will be required to present evidence of having the vaccine to your manager.

We thank you for everything you do in keeping everyone in our Whiddon family safe.

Find out more about the flu vaccine in 2022 by reading this NSW Health brochure.

 

21 April 2022

Flu season is just around the corner. Getting vaccinated against influenza is the best way of protecting you, your loved ones and others from the flu. This year it is even more important. We are all more vulnerable to influenza due to lower recent exposure to the virus and lower uptake of influenza vaccines. With international borders reopening, it’s likely we will see more influenza in 2022.

Influenza vaccination prepares your immune system to fight influenza viruses. The immunity provided by the vaccine can protect you from becoming sick if you get exposed to influenza in the community. This immunity can also reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick.

What is the seasonal flu?

Influenza is highly infectious and a potentially serious disease. It spreads by droplets from coughing or sneezing and is often described as seasonal as it tends to occur in the cooler, winter months. Older people living in aged care homes are particularly vulnerable to the flu. It can lead to complications such as pneumonia which can result in severe illness for older people and those whose health may put them at risk.

What can I do to help stop the spread?

While Whiddon has robust procedures, policies and guidelines in place, we also rely on visitors to help us to control, reduce and prevent infection. There are simple steps that you can take to help us protect you and those around you from infection when you are visiting our care homes and services.

Get a flu shot
An annual flu shot helps to protect you and your loved ones from the flu. For the last two years, the flu vaccine has been mandated for all visitors to aged care homes. While this has not yet been mandated for 2022, we expect that it will once again become a condition of entry over the flu season. You can prepare for this by having your free flu vaccine.

Talk to your GP about how to access your flu vaccine, so you can give protection against the flu, your best shot!

Encourage others to get a flu shot
Encourage your family and friends to see their GP to arrange a free flu vaccination.

Avoid spreading illness
Wash your hands regularly with liquid soap and water or alcohol hand rub when you visit. Cover your mouth when coughing and put tissues in the bin immediately after use.

Stay away if you’re sick
If you have recently been sick, been in contact with someone who is sick, or you have symptoms of respiratory illness (including fever, sore throat, cough, muscle and joint pain, tiredness or exhaustion) or symptoms of gastro, please do not visit.

Where can I find out more information?

Find out how you can help stop the flu in 2022 by reading this NSW Health brochure.

Covid-19 Winter Vaccination Dose

Please also note that our residential aged care services are arranging clinics for the winter COVID vaccinations to be delivered by local GPs or in-reach clinics via the Department of Health.

The dates for these clinics will be communicated once they are confirmed and consent will be sought as per our usual process.

We thank you for helping to keep everyone in our Whiddon family safe.

 

14 April 2022

We wanted to advise you that the COVID-19 situation at Whiddon Easton Park continues to stabilise, and to remind you of our visitation guidelines at this time.

All residents, despite their location may have one visitor, except in the areas where there is a COVID-19 positive resident and this is limited to one nominated visitor or partner in care. Please note that there are no changes to visitation to Arthur Webb Court at this time. We have not had any residents test positive at Arthur Webb Court at this time. All visits must be pre-booked.

When visiting please ensure that you:

• wear an N95 mask and face shield at all times, which will be supplied to you. In some areas, you may be required to wear full PPE
• 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 patience, understanding and ongoing support through this challenging time.

We wish you a safe and happy Easter break and thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

14 April 2022

Firstly, we want to thank you for your incredible efforts and contributions in keeping our residents, and each other, safe at this challenging time.

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.

As a reminder, 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.

In regards to the situation at Whiddon Easton Park, we have had additional residents and employees who have tested positive to COVID-19 over the last week and we are continuing to work with the local Public Health Unit and follow their guidance.

Pleasingly, we have seen a number of residents and employees at Whiddon Easton Park who have now recovered from COVID-19. We are continuing to conduct COVID-19 testing of residents in locations where residents or employees have tested positive. We are also testing any residents who are displaying respiratory symptoms.

All residents, despite their location may have one visitor, except in the areas where there is a COVID-19 positive resident and this is limited to one nominated visitor or partner in care. Please note that there are no changes to visitation to Arthur Webb Court at this time. We have not had any residents test positive at Arthur Webb Court at this time. All visits must be pre-booked.

Once again, we thank you for all you do in keeping everyone in our family safe.

Whiddon Easton Park Management team

12 April 2022

In very welcome news, the local Public Health Unit have declared the COVID-19 outbreak at Whiddon Hornsby over.

This means that residents may once again, have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over, plus two children aged under 12 years per day.

Residents who are positive to COVID-19 are required to continue to isolate at this time. They are permitted to have one nominated visitor or partner in care, and their visitor must wear full PPE.

Visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry to Whiddon Hornsby at this time, and are strongly encouraged to have a booster vaccine if they are eligible for one.

When visiting please ensure that you:

• wear an N95 mask and face shield at all times, which will be supplied to you. If you are visiting a COVID-19 positive resident, full PPE must be worn
• 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 ongoing support through this challenging time. We look forward to seeing you soon.

12 April 2022

Since our last update, several additional residents and employees have tested positive to COVID-19 and we are continuing to work with the local Public Health Unit and follow their guidance.

Pleasingly, we have had a number of residents at Whiddon Easton Park who have now recovered from COVID-19.

We are continuing to conduct COVID-19 testing of residents in locations where residents or employees have tested positive. We are also testing any residents who are displaying respiratory symptoms. Please be assured that if your loved one tests positive to COVID-19, we will contact you directly.

All residents, despite their location may have one visitor, except in the areas where there is a COVID-19 positive resident and this is limited to one nominated visitor or partner in care. Please note that there are no changes to visitation to Arthur Webb Court at this time. We have not had any residents test positive at Arthur Webb Court at this time. All visits must be pre-booked.

When visiting please ensure that you:

• wear an N95 mask and face shield at all times, which will be supplied to you. In some areas, you may be required to wear full PPE
• 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 patience, understanding and ongoing support through this challenging time.

12 April 2022

We wanted to provide a further update on Whiddon Beaudesert Star. We had previously advised that several residents and employees at Whiddon Beaudesert Star had tested positive to COVID-19, in the Clayfield and Upper Rainbow wings.

Following testing over the weekend of residents and employees, we have had two further employees test positive to COVID-19. Pleasingly, no further residents have tested positive. Further testing of residents will be undertaken on Thursday at the direction of the local Public Health Unit, who we are working closely with.

For now, visitation to Clayfield A wing and Upper Rainbow wing is limited to on compassionate grounds, or for essential caring. Please speak with the Director Care Services for approval of such visits.

All visits must be booked. All 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. Our teams are working hard to keep residents connected to their loved ones as we know how important this is.