Care home: Why we can’t relax our guard

CORONAVIRUS has infiltrated a care home near Bristol with devastating effect, infecting almost 40 people and claiming the life of a resident.

Windmill House care home in Old Down, South Gloucestershire, had been Covid-free since the pandemic started last year and had implemented strict precautions.

However, the virus found its way into the home at the end of January, 13 days after residents were given their first dose of the vaccine.

Windmill Care, which runs the home, believes the vaccine saved lives as most cases have been mild.

A total of 20 residents and 18 staff members have tested positive since January 27.

Len Collacott, managing director at Windmill Care, said: “No one is sure why the virus got into the home and, since then, 18 staff and 20 residents have tested positive.

“This is an object lesson of how easily the virus can spread once it gets a toehold.”

He said it was due to “exceptional hard work, strict infection control policies and the following of Public Health England guidance” that the home had stayed Covid-free for so long. Mr Collacott had managed to get the vaccination there brought forward to January 14 with all residents receiving their first dose.

It was almost two weeks until the first case was confirmed.

Mr Collacott said: “We think [vaccinations] has saved everyone from the worst effects.

“Sadly one of our residents succumbed to the virus, however, remarkably, all of the others have suffered minimal symptoms and have recovered.

“The vast majority of the positive tested staff have also now completed their isolation and are returning to work.”

The care home is working with Public Health England to ensure the spread is contained.

Mr Collacott said: “We cannot relax our guard but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are looking forward to being able to gradually release our restrictions and then to the day we can invite our family and friends back into the home.”

The home is currently hoping to be able to accept some visitors from March 22, dependent on no more cases of the virus being identified in the meantime.

For other care homes, the Government is allowing them to restart regular visits from March 8. Each resident will be allowed a named visitor, who will even be able to hold their hand, as long as they take a rapid Covid test upon entry and wear PPE.

Mr Collacott said the strict limit on visiting was an “essential tool” to protect staff and residents.

He said: “As we felt our way into the crisis, thousands of care home residents [nationally] died and stringent measures were brought in to try and control the problem.

“For almost a year now residents and their loved ones have only been able to meet under strict conditions to prevent the transmission of the virus.

“That has been terrible for everyone and been emotionally draining on residents and families.”

The managing director said staff have arranged Skype, telephone, and Zoom calls, and built a “visiting

pod” in the lobby in September to enable safe meetings.

Mr Collacott added: “There is a delicate balance to be held between the freedom and increased wellbeing of visiting, and the danger of becoming infected with Covid-19, a virus that is exceptionally deadly to the elderly and frail.

“Every action we have taken has been under the guidance of Public Health England and the government guidelines and we have been continually monitored and advised by the professionals.”

Praising staff for their “tireless” work to provide care while trying to keep residents safe, he said: “One of the success stories that we had was that staff signed up to work extra hours to ensure no outside agency staff were needed and another layer of risk was avoided.

“At times some of the team, including the management team, were working very long hours.”

All visiting there was halted during the first lockdown, before care homes were allowed to gradually open back up.

Mr Collacott said: “We were able to start inside visits once testing was introduced in early December but that was stopped when the latest lockdown commenced in early January.”

❝ This is an object lesson of how easily the virus can spread once it gets a toehold

Len Collacott