Coronavirus Update…

Last evening the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that coronavirus, COVID-19, was now classified as a worldwide pandemic. In turn the British Government are set to increase measures to ‘delay’ the spread of the virus in the UK.

Here at Apple House care homes we want to reassure service users, their families, professionals, our staff and suppliers that we will deal with any suspected outbreak in accordance with published NHS and PHE guidelines. These guidelines cover what to do if a staff member or resident, or someone else connected to our homes, are diagnosed with COVID-19.

Incorporating the NHS guidance we have also developed our own contingency plan which includes how to keep people safe and comfortable, how to keep the home and ourselves clean, and how to ensure adequate stocks of food and medicines incase of a quarantine or lock-down situation.

We realise there could be considerable change if we need to isolate within our homes. This change might be quite significant for some people for whom change is difficult. We are therefore planning as best as we can and being creative within our services in order to keep life as normal as possible for people we support and our dedicated staff team.

We need you to help us please. As per NHS guidelines, please don’t visit any of our homes or our head office if you have travelled from any of the ‘red flag’ countries identified on the NHS website or if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone confirmed as having the virus. Self isolation guidance is available HERE.

Furthermore, with immediate effect, we ask you to please consider whether your visit to our homes is essential or if it can be postponed. This is so that we can limit exposure to the virus and risk of contracting it for the more vulnerable individuals who reside with us and for our staff who might also have underlying health issues. We are not closed to visitors at this time but appreciate your extra consideration of non-essential visits. We are also able to offer Skype or telephone calls to family members who wish to use these methods of communication instead of visiting. Of course we continue to be guided by the NHS and will update this website accordingly in the future.

If you would like to see a copy of our Contingency Plan with latest Addendum 1, please contact us through this website or call one of our homes or head office and a copy can be emailed to you.

Please stay well and remember, Catch it, Bin it, Kill it. #WashYourHands

— Jane Montrose, Managing Director.