We understand you may have concerns about Coronavirus (COVID -19) and we share those concerns. Our residents are the most frail and elderly and therefore are the most vulnerable.
Please contact the home if you have any concerns. Please also be aware that our policy is continually under review as circumstances change
Combatting Coronavirus
We are following all Government and Public Health England policy to minimise the risk of infection for our residents. There are regular discussions with NHS Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Essex and we are following Local Authority guidance.
We have felt that visitors are a key part of life for our residents. Therefore, we enabled visits on compassionate grounds throughout the pandemic. We also allowed garden visits (when guidance permitted) through 2020, and opened up designated visitor areas inside as soon as guidance permitted.
Our residents and staff received their first vaccines in December, and their second jabs in March/ April. We are very pleased that the uptake rate of the vaccine across our staff has been exceptionally high. This averages around 97% of staff per home (excluding those who are either pregnant or breast feeding). We have had almost universal uptake of the vaccine amongst our residents. The guidance requires vaccination rates to be over 80% to be effective in a nursing home at providing group immunity, and this gives us greater confidence around visiting.
Across our group over the last 12 months, whilst we had very limited outbreaks amongst staff who were identified through the rigorous testing regime, this generally reflected heightened infection rates in the community. Fortunately, our infection control procedures prevented these positive test results from progressing further, i.e. transmission to our residents.
However, we have to continue to manage the infection risk, as it cannot be removed entirely. We are continually reviewing our Covid-19 policy and also have a COVID admission policy. We will seek to further open up our homes as soon as guidance permits, as it is critical to the mental wellbeing of both our residents and their families, whilst always keeping the safety of both residents and staff central to everything we do.
6 May 2021