Testing carried out at all care homes in Kerry

THE HSE is remaining tightlipped on the outcome of COVID testing at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Kerry.

The HSE’s Cork Kerry Community Healthcare this week confirmed that testing has now taken place at all residential facilities in both counties.

Testing – of residents and staff – has now taken place at no fewer than 350 facilities, including public and private centres, carried out by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare working with the National Ambulance Service.

But the service has refused to be drawn on the incidence of COVID-19 detected across the care homes in the region.

“We are not in a position to discuss the results or outcomes of this testing.

“In any residential setting where there has been a confirmed Covid-19 outbreak, these have been effectively managed with seamless co-operation between community and hospital sectors,” a spokesperson told The Kerryman on Tuesday.

Testing at nursing homes and other long-term care centres was ramped up in the past fortnight amid sharp criticism of the impact of the pandemic on the sector. There are now 222 clusters of COVID-19 in nursing homes, with nursing homes alone accounting for up to 50 per cent of all COVID-related deaths as of last week.

The HSE described the ramped-up testing as a ‘significant undertaking’ that witnessed tens of thousands of tests carried out.

Now the HSE has set up a special network of clinical support teams to advise centres on the special protection measures required to keep the disease at bay.

It is also making regular deliveries of PPE to care homes, they said.

“The HSE has set up a network of expert support teams across Cork and Kerry to provide assistance to residential facilities for older people during the Covid-19 crisis.

“These support teams are made up of staff from acute hospitals and community services, with support from Public Health and infection control professionals,” the spokesperson outlined, adding:

“The teams are led by experienced nurse managers from Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and are made up of senior doctors and nurses from acute hospitals and the community service, including consultant geriatricians from Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, Bantry General Hospital and Kerry University Hospital.” The clinical support teams have been in contact with all private nursing home and residential care facilities in Cork and Kerry (more than 90); offering a wide range of supports from expert advice to managerial support.

Testing underway at St Joseph’s nursing home at Listowel Community Hospital last week, with a special tent set up by the Civil Defence outside the facility as part of the operation.