Author: micheller

29 July 2022

We have been working with the local Public Health Unit and are pleased to share that our COVID outbreak at Whiddon Kyogle will be declared over from tomorrow, Saturday 30 July. 

From tomorrow residents can return to their normal activities and visitation requirements will return to normal.

We do want to remind you to ensure your visits are pre-booked and the following applies:

• Whiddon strongly recommends all relevant vaccinations of both COVID-19 and influenza for all visitors.
• Non-vaccinated visitors are able to visit their loved ones in an outdoor area wearing N95 masks and face shields. Non-vaccinated visitors should not enter a home unless approval is given by the DCS/DDCS Team based on individual circumstances e.g. end of life, compassionate visits, resident wellbeing.
• Visitors must wear an N95 mask, face shield and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Up to 2 children under 12 years are permitted to visit provided they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated person
• Wherever possible, the visit should be in resident’s room or in an outdoor area. Visits should not be in any inside communal areas
• Visitors must check-in through our visitor check-in system
• Visitors must not visit if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements). People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Visitors must not visit if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, feel unwell or have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless they are: fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and they have received a negative antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in NSW

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time and want to acknowledge the support the dedication from our staff.

29 July 2022 

We have been working with the local Public Health Unit and are please to share that our COVID outbreak in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso has been declared over.

Visitations may resume as normal. We want to remind you that visits must be pre-booked and are only permitted from 8:00am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time.

29 July 2022 

We have been working with the local Public Health Unit and are pleased to share that our COVID outbreak in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso has been declared over.

Visitations may resume as normal. We do want to remind you to ensure your visits are pre-booked and the following applies:

• Visitations are permitted between 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
• Weekend visits must have approval from management, and are for compassionate reasons only.
• Whiddon strongly recommends all relevant vaccinations of both COVID-19 and influenza for all visitors.
• Non-vaccinated visitors are able to visit their loved ones in an outdoor area wearing N95 masks and face shields. Non-vaccinated visitors should not enter a home unless approval is given by the DCS/DDCS Team based on individual circumstances e.g. end of life, compassionate visits, resident wellbeing.
• Visitors must wear an N95 mask, face shield and complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Up to 2 children under 12 years are permitted to visit provided they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated person
• Wherever possible, the visit should be in resident’s room or in an outdoor area. Visits should not be in any inside communal areas
• Visitors must check-in through our visitor check-in system
• Visitors must not visit if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to COVID-19 (unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements). People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Visitors must not visit if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, feel unwell or have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless they are: fully vaccinated, it has been at least 7 days after arrival and they have received a negative antigen test 6 days or later after arriving in NSW

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time.

28 July 2022

Further from our update earlier this week, we are pleased to advise you that there have been no additional positive cases of COVID-19 recorded at Whiddon Kelso.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit to re-open the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso. We will provide an update in the coming days when the outbreak has been declared over.

27 July 2022

Dear Whiddon Easton Park Care staff,

On Monday 25^th July an SMS and email notification was sent out to you with the purpose of sharing an announcement about a proposed change to the Care rosters. The purpose of this message is to provide further update to you in regard to our process.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated by completing the survey, meeting with us in the Q&A sessions, for discussing this change and your feedback with your DCS’s so far. Your feedback, the discussion and your input has been invaluable so far.

Q&A Sessions

Are still being held today & tomorrow in the Easton Park Function Centre Dining Room. A number of you have attended and we hope that these sessions have provided a little more understanding and information in relation to the questions you had. We are open to your feedback and understand that discussing your feedback, concerns and clarifying questions is an important part of understanding this proposed change.

Employee Shift Availability Preference Survey

Thank you to those who have already completed your survey. This is important information that will assist our further understanding in our process.

A kind reminder if you have not already completed the survey, please complete this by 7 August 2022. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and is accessible via phone, tablet or computer, you can access the survey by:

1. Scanning the QR Code on the Flyer located in staff rooms across Easton Park, or
2. Clicking on this link: Employee Shift Availability Survey

Change Impact Statement

It has come to our attention that the commencement & communication date within the Change Impact Statement (Item 7, Page 3) had our commencement incorrectly stated as the 18^th July 2022. This was updated to the correct commencement date, 25^th July 2022.

Thank you to those that picked this up and had raised this feedback with us.

25 July 2022 

We have had two residents in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso test positive to COVID-19. Following the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we have activated our outbreak management plan.

Please refrain from entering the Hostel Wing, unless you’re working in the wing. Staff that are working in Bedwell and Kingston must enter via the side door to the main entrance.

Residents from the Hostel Wing are not permitted to be in other areas of the facility and if they wish to be outside, they will have to maintain social distancing.

We want to also take this time to remind you:

• Rapid Antigen Testing must occur prior to commencing your shift
• PPE must be worn, particularly face shields, goggles and masks when around residents
• Staff or residents, in any wing displaying symptoms must be reported to RN in charge immediately

23 July 2022

We have had two residents in the Hostel Wing at Whiddon Kelso test positive to COVID-19. Following the advice of the local Public Health Unit, we have activated our outbreak management plan.

Residents from the Hostel Wing will be isolated to their area and at this time will not be permitted to go on social outings.

For now, visitations to the Hostel Wing are limited to one visitor per resident for compassionate or essential visits only. All visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, wear an N95 mask and may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time, such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell. 

Please note, visitations to all other areas remain as per normal.

We thank you for your patience and assistance during this time and will provide a further update if anything changes.

The NSW State Government has recently updated their guidelines around COVID-19 and Influenza procedures for Residential Aged Care.

As always, your safety and wellbeing is our highest priority, and we have updated our visitation and vaccination requirements as summarised below. Please note, this does not apply if our care home is in an outbreak.

1. Visitors

• Residents are welcome to have 2 adults and 2 children visit them each day – approval for additional visitors may be provided in special circumstances with approval from each Home’s  Management
• Visitors are still required to complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to entering our Homes and wear PPE as advised by staff
• For everyone’s safety, visits should occur in resident rooms instead of in common areas

2. Vaccinations 

• We strongly recommend all relevant vaccinations for both COVID-19 and Influenza for all visitors
• Non-vaccinated visitors are able to visit their loved ones in our Homes, only with the prior approval of the Homes’ management, and these visits must occur in an outdoor area wearing N95 masks and face shields
• In the event that a non-vaccinated visitor cannot complete their visit in an outdoor setting, the visit should occur in resident rooms with N95 masks and face shields worn at all times. This requires approval from the Home’s Management.

Thank you for your continued understanding as we all strive to keep our residents and staff safe.

The Whiddon Team

As we have all heard in the media, we are seeing a significant increase in COVID-19 as well Influenza cases across the state.

This year it is even more important than ever to stay up-to-date with your vaccinations.

The current advice from Government includes:

• 4th COVID-19 booster – an additional booster (4th dose) is now available to people 30 years and older and is strongly recommended for people over 50 years – find out more & book here
• Annual Flu Jab – with “Flu season” now in full swing, make sure you protect yourself,  our residents and clients with your annual Flu Vaccine – find out more here

Older Australians are at the highest risk from influenza and COVID-9. Our priorities are to keep our residents, clients and employees healthy and vaccines are something we can get to keep us all safe.

We thank you for everything you do and your efforts to protect our people and residents this Winter!

10 July 2022

We have had 2 residents  test positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Wee Waa. Families of residents who have tested positive have been notified.

We are currently working with the Public Health Unit to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff. For now, visitation is limited to one nominated partner-in-care. Partners-in-care must book their visits prior to visiting our care home. All visitors are required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry, wear an N95 mask and may be asked to wear additional PPE at this time such as a face shield. Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.