A message from Prof Andrew Cole, Chief Medical Officer
HammondCare’s priority is to maintain and protect the health and wellbeing of residents, clients, patients, staff and volunteers. We recognise the very significant challenges COVID-19 has imposed on all of us since early 2020 and want to thank you for your ongoing support and trust in HammondCare.
This page provides information about HammondCare’s approach to managing COVID-19 and what you can do to reduce the risk.
With your support, we’re working to ensure the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable in our society.
We’re grateful for your understanding of COVID-19’s ongoing impact and encourage you to continue to be vigilant for your own health and safety, and for the health of those in the broader community.
We continue to observe the key importance of up-to-date vaccination, good hygiene and infection control. These steps help protect us against getting serious COVID-19 infection.
Even though COVID-19 is a part of the normal living environment for most of us now, we know it can still be a serious illness in older people, or those with low immunity or other medical risk factors. It is important that we help protect those people, at the same time as we try to protect ourselves against recurring COVID-19 infection.
Managing the risk
Residential Services
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Staff and visitor screening
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Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
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Monitoring and auditing of infection control practices by the QSR team
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Reduced movement of staff between services and between cottages at each service
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Enhanced cleaning processes, especially in high-touch areas
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Increased precautionary testing of staff
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Offering on-site vaccination clinics to residents and staff
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Developing clear escalation and decision-making processes that promote safety and encompass a compassionate approach
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Implementing measures to safely enable ongoing engagement and visits for residents, their family and loved ones
Hospital Services
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Patient and visitor screening through trained screening staff
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Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
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Signage to encourage safe infection control practices; this is reinforced through QSR audits
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Enhanced provision of hand sanitiser and increased cleaning processes, especially in high-touch areas
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Increased precautionary testing of staff, patients and visitors as required
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Introducing visitor restrictions where necessary and appropriate
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Developing clear escalation processes and decision frameworks for complex COVID-19 scenarios – balanced with necessary flexibility and a compassionate approach
Home Care Services
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Arranging pre-visit screening for all staff and clients
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Comprehensive risk management strategies for clients who may display symptoms, or who may be a close contact
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Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
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Increased precautionary testing of staff and risk mitigation strategies to assist in continuity of care for close contacts and household contacts
-
Arranging pre-visit screening for all staff and clients
-
Comprehensive risk management strategies for clients who may display symptoms, or who may be a close contact
-
Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
-
Increased precautionary testing of staff and risk mitigation strategies to assist in continuity of care for close contacts and household contacts
-
Staff and visitor screening
-
Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
-
Monitoring and auditing of infection control practices by the QSR team
-
Reduced movement of staff between services and between cottages at each service
-
Enhanced cleaning processes, especially in high-touch areas
-
Increased precautionary testing of staff
-
Offering on-site vaccination clinics to residents and staff
-
Developing clear escalation and decision-making processes that promote safety and encompass a compassionate approach
-
Implementing measures to safely enable ongoing engagement and visits for residents, their family and loved ones
-
Patient and visitor screening through trained screening staff
-
Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
-
Signage to encourage safe infection control practices; this is reinforced through QSR audits
-
Enhanced provision of hand sanitiser and increased cleaning processes, especially in high-touch areas
-
Increased precautionary testing of staff, patients and visitors as required
-
Introducing visitor restrictions where necessary and appropriate
-
Developing clear escalation processes and decision frameworks for complex COVID-19 scenarios – balanced with necessary flexibility and a compassionate approach
-
Arranging pre-visit screening for all staff and clients
-
Comprehensive risk management strategies for clients who may display symptoms, or who may be a close contact
-
Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
-
Increased precautionary testing of staff and risk mitigation strategies to assist in continuity of care for close contacts and household contacts
-
Arranging pre-visit screening for all staff and clients
-
Comprehensive risk management strategies for clients who may display symptoms, or who may be a close contact
-
Training in, and enhanced use of, appropriate PPE and infection control measures
-
Increased precautionary testing of staff and risk mitigation strategies to assist in continuity of care for close contacts and household contacts
