Good Afternoon Everyone,
It is with regret that I write to inform you all that so near to the end of the outbreak Covid has reared its head again with two staff members receiving positive test results.
I was starting to become hopeful that having the LFDs and twice-weekly testing of staff taking place. We hoped we could identify any outbreaks more effectively but based on recent evidence; I now have my doubts about the effectiveness of the LFD testing kits as both staff tested negative on Monday and Tuesday of this week but provided positive swab test results this morning.
Both staff have isolated and sadly, one is Millie meaning that I must also isolate as we both live in the same household, but on a positive note, my swab result received today was negative.
Thanks to the investment made in information technology, I can hold Zoom meetings during staff handovers and will be speaking to the home daily to support the staff on duty. In addition, Vince and I and all members of the Senior Management Team will be using the Zoom facility on an as and when needed basis, so the impact on my confinement will not be noticeable.
Thankfully because of our ongoing investment in staff development, we are in the fortunate position of having staff with the necessary knowledge and skills highly to manages situations like this, and I have every faith that the home is in great hands, and you will see no difference in the care provided.
All residents who wished to, and all available staff have been re-swabbed this morning and their swabs sent for analysis, so hopefully, we will receive the results by Friday, when we can give you more information on developments and how we plan to facilitate future visits at the earliest opportunity and in the safest possible way.
Both myself and Vince have been engaged in talks during the night when we received the test results and again this morning and feel holding off the visits until we know all the results would be the safest and most practical approach.
While we await those results, we also intend to send a questionnaire to all Next of Kin’s to ask for feedback as to:
- How you feel your relatives are coping with the current lockdown.
- How are you as relatives are feeling.
Then having considered your views, we can agree on a strategy to address the needs of the residents and the families within the current restrictions imposed upon us.
I know that this is news that you are not wanting to hear, and if it helps, it was not the news that I was not expecting when woken in the early hours of this morning, but then again, despite all our best efforts, it shows that we cannot let our guard drop as the virus is so unpredictable.
If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact your allocated Keyworker, who will then pass on your comments to either Vince or myself, and we will address them at the earliest opportunity.
For those relatives who have Millie as a Keyworker, please contact me directly on lindsay@hendrahouse.co.uk or phone the home.
I am sure you appreciate what a difficult time this is for all of us, but I would like to thank all members of Team Hendra, some of whom have returned to work whilst on leave or volunteered to work additional shifts to ensure the safety of your loved ones.
Thank you all for your continued support, and stay safe.
Lindsay, Vince and all of Team Hendra