Coronavirus update 7th January 2021

This is our twelfth update for relatives of everyone here at Baily House and Woodleigh Christian Care Home to keep you up to date on recent developments regarding the Corona virus pandemic.

1. Just before Christmas Mat Hancock announced a variate strain of the virus that was more transmissible. We are therefore even more aware of the dangers.
2. Nottinghamshire entered tier 4 on 31st December, and the national lockdown on the 6th January.
3. There is good news on vaccination regulatory approval.
4. Additional testing is being made available to care homes.
5. Several staff have also received the first dose of the vaccine.

As a result:
1. Visiting in the “pods/bubbles” will continue if the homes are not in isolation.
2. We are introducing Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) in addition to the PCR tests for staff and visitors as the test become available.

2021 visiting

We need to carefully balance the need for family visiting and contact with the current risks of transmission of the virus to other residents, staff and their families. Therefore, we are proposing that:

Remote/ Facetime/ Skype calls will continue as currently. With the introduction of the national lockdown, we would ask all families to consider using these methods in preference to visiting the homes where possible whilst the national lockdown continues.

Visiting inside the home will be restricted to:
• Visits from professionals who cannot undertake important tasks remotely: for example, this may include safeguarding, statutory advocacy in certain circumstances and flu vaccination.
• Exceptional visits from family or significant others – for example to support end of life care, or where a person’s wellbeing is so adversely impacted it presents a significant risk.” We will be introducing LTF testing as these become available. If the test is positive, indicating that you have COVID the government guidelines require that you obtain a PCR test and isolate until you know the outcome, then follow government guidance. Such a result will mean you are unable to visit the home. It is therefore vital that families who wish to visit at this difficult time minimize or reduce other contacts that might lead to infection.

Visiting in the “pod/bubbles”
• We have created an indoor visiting facility at both homes and have commenced visits within these rooms. Please contact the home to arrange a visit. But please continue to communicate with your loved ones via telephone, video calling or even by writing a letter. The guidance about wearing PPE, (masks, aprons etc) is unchanged and we have attached that guidance to this letter.
• The guidance is that there should be one nominated, and consistent visitor.

Vaccinations

We have now been told that residents will start to be vaccinated in January.
• Prior to administering the vaccine, we will need to gain either the resident’s permission, if they have capacity, to make that decision or their authorized deputy. The homes will be in contact with the nominated family members if necessary.
• the vaccine is likely to be administered in two does, which may be 8/12 weeks apart. The guidance on this timing is still developing.
• If a resident has had COVID or tested positive but with no symptoms they need to wait a period before they can start the vaccination programme. This may mean some residents will not be vaccinated until March. In this area guidance is still to be clarified.
• If you have any concerns about the vaccines, we encourage you to discuss this with the home managers. Our aim, and hope, is to vaccinate 100%.
• At this stage we do not know how vaccinations will change visiting arrangements; question still to be answered are how soon visiting inside the home will resume and what level of PPE or testing will be recommended for visitors and staff – as soon as we know we will let you know.

Visitor Testing

There have been media stories about rapid testing becoming available for visitors: the Lateral Flow Test (LFT). We have assessed these for effectiveness, reliability, and practicality. The tests are only 40 to 60% accurate. In our view insufficiently accurate to extend the scope of safe internal visiting. There are also practical restrictions. Therefore, for the time being we are continuing the current visiting arrangements. As the vaccination programme is completed both in the home and in the wider community more normal visiting may return. We will keep you informed.

We appreciate that this may be frustrating and disappointing for us all, however the health and safety of our vulnerable residents and our staff must be paramount at all times. We will continue to review our policies in relation to visits and coronavirus as the advice and guidance changes.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you, for your continued support and well wishes throughout these most difficult of times.

If you have any concerns or queries please do not hesitate to contact the home, or the Home Manager.