Author: micheller

Dear Families

Further to our last update, all residents remain at Whiddon Moree and are safe and well.

Currently, our phone line is down and we are working with Telstra to resolve the issue.

If you do need to urgently contact the site today, you can call our Regional General Manager, Sally Renshaw, on 0436 659 935. From tomorrow, you can call 1300 738 388.

We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team

A Message to Whiddon kyogle Families
from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Quality Assessors from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission are visiting today.

We would like to hear from you.

We will be checking on the standard of care and services provided to you.

If you (or someone who represents you) would like to speak with us either at the service or by phone during our visit, please let the staff know so they can arrange for you to meet with us.

Otherwise:

• you can contact us at the Commission directly on 1800 951 822, select option 2.
• provide feedback about your experience of the quality and safety provided to you via an online survey at https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-feedback.
  To open the survey, use code 0097.

If you need Interpreter assistance, please call Translating and Interpreter Service (TIS) on 131 450 and ask for Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

For more information you can visit our website at:
www.agedcarequality.gov.au

Click here to download this information.

At Whiddon, we continue to review our COVID Guidelines to ensure we remain up-to-date with current government requirements, ensure the safety of our residents and staff, as well as provide a warm and welcoming environment for our families and visitors.

Please see below our latest guidelines. These guidelines will remain in place during normal operating conditions.

In the event of a COVID outbreak or exposure, changes to visitation may occur, including the requirement to pre-book visits, limit visitor numbers or wear protective equipment.

Standard Visitor Guidelines

• Visitor screening requirements remain in place, however given the current environment, we will now move to a self-screening process
• Visitors are required to complete a Rapid Antigen Test and return a negative result prior to entry into the home – this testing no longer needs to be supervised by employees however assistance will be provided if required
• Daily visitors are permitted to test second daily, with prior approval from the local management team
• Visitors must still register their visit through our Rapid Global electronic visitor registration system
• Surgical masks must be worn for the duration of the visit. The masks MUST cover both the nose and mouth.
• Visitors must not enter our care homes if they have any COVID-like symptoms
• Visitors cannot enter a care home if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days and until they are symptom-free
• Bookings are not required for visits if the Home is not experiencing a COVID outbreak or exposure
• The current NSW Health recommendation is to limit visitors to 2 adults and 2 children per resident per 24-hour period, however, can be increased with approval from the local management team
• Where possible, visits should be held outdoors or in well-ventilated areas away from other residents. This is particularly important for gatherings of more than 2 visitors.
• As a precaution we ask that visitors maintain social distancing and limit movement around the facility to help maintain resident safety

Visitor Guidelines during COVID outbreak or exposure

In the event that there is a COVID-19 outbreak or exposure in the home, our team will contact families to update on the situation and changes to Visitor Guidelines will apply.

We take this opportunity to thank all our residents, families, and staff for your continued support.

The Whiddon Team

We are pleased to advise that the Exposure notification for Easton Park Units has been declared closed, in line with guidance from the local Public Health Unit.

There have been no further cases, and normal visitation arrangements can now be resumed.

The latest Whiddon COVID Guidelines for families can be found here: https://bit.ly/3SffKxU.

Thank you for your support.

The Whiddon Team

We are pleased to advise that the Exposure notification for Arthur Webb Court has been declared closed, in line with guidance from the Public Health Unit.

There have been no further cases, and normal visitation arrangements can now be resumed.

The latest Whiddon COVID Guidelines for families can be found here: https://bit.ly/3SffKxU.

Thank you for your support.

The Whiddon Team

We write to advise that there has been a COVID exposure at Arthur Webb Court; however pleasingly there are no further positive cases.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit, and can advise that the exposure will be closed off early next week.

There are no changes to current visitation arrangements.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time, and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team

Further to the communication sent last Friday 16 September, this message is to provide you with an update on the COVID outbreak at Taylor House.

Pleasingly, there have been no further positive cases. We are continuing to work with the local Public Health Unit (PHU). At this stage, Straughen 1 remains a Red Zone, and all other areas are Green.

All staff are required to wear face shields and N95 masks when entering the building; and full PPE is required for Red Zones. 

There are no changes to the visitation arrangements communicated last week. We have included these again below for ease of reference:

VISITATIONS:

• For Residents in Straughen 1: visitations are restricted to partners in care or one nominated visitor, for compassionate and essential visits only.
• For Residents in all other areas of Taylor House Building: normal visitation arrangements apply.

Please note:

• All visits must be pre-booked
• Upon arrival, visitors will be required to complete a RAT test
• Visitors are required to wear PPE for the duration of their visit

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation. Further updates will be provided in due course.

The Whiddon Team

Further to the previous communication , sent last Friday 16 September, we are pleased to advise that there have been no further positive cases of COVID-19 at Whiddon Easton Park Units.

We have been working closely with the local Public Health Unit, and can advise that the exposure will be declared over early next week, provided that there are no additional positive cases.

The following precautionary measures remain in place: 

• All staff and visitors are required to wear face shields and N95 masks when entering the building
• All visits must be pre-booked
• Upon arrival, visitors will be required to complete a RAT test
• If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms, please delay your visit

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time, and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team

Please be advised that the Public Health Unit (PHU) declares COVID-19 outbreak status when two residents test positive within 72 hours of each other. Whiddon Redhead met that criteria earlier this week, as communicated previously.

Further testing has since identified only one single case of COVID-19 in John Read House. As such, the PHU has now declared the outbreak over.

However, due to the confirmed positive case, residents in Wing 3 of John Read House are required to remain restricted to their Wing, with the affected resident in room isolation. We anticipate being able to reopen this Wing on Thursday 29 September at the earliest.

At this stage, visitors for Wing 3 are required to pre-book their visit, have a negative RAT prior to entering the building, and wear full personal protective equipment for the duration of their visit. Visits for this Wing are also restricted to the resident’s room only.

Visitors for all other areas are no longer required to pre-book their visit, although will be required to show a negative RAT prior to entering a building, and to wear a face mask while on site.

We ask that, where possible, visits are attended in an outdoor space, or alternatively, in residents’ rooms.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families

We are pleased to advise that the current outbreak at Whiddon Kelso has been declared over by the Public Health Unit.

Visits are welcome between 8am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday and must be pre-booked with administration.

Below is an update on our latest Visitor guidelines.

Thank you

The Whiddon Team

Visitors to a Care Home

• Visitors cannot enter a care home if they have tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days and until they are symptom free. The NSW Government’s recent changes  to self-isolation periods do not apply to Aged Care facilities.
• Visitors are required to return a negative test immediately prior to entering the home. Visitors who provide essential care and visit the home every day, may undertake second daily testing. However, in the event of an outbreak at the home testing will need to be conducted daily.

Limitations on Numbers of Visitors

• We are also pleased to let you know that there is no longer a restriction on the number of visitors that your loved one can have each day. However, Whiddon recommends that group bookings are planned ahead, and that visitors contact the service so that you can reserve an area to accommodate your group size.
• Where possible, visits should be held outdoors or in well-ventilated areas away from other residents. This is particularly important for gatherings of more than 2 visitors.
• All visitors over 12 years of age must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while visiting indoors.
• As a precaution we ask that visitors maintain social distancing to help maintain resident safety.
• Visitors should remain with their loved one and not move between different areas of the facility. We ask that you remain in your loved one’s room or at the same outdoor location during your visit.
• In the event of a COVID Outbreak at your loved ones care home, changes to visitation may occur, including the requirement to pre-book visits in advance.