Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Issue 536:<br />24 Jan 2022<br />_____________Issue 536:
24 Jan 2022
_____________
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Aged care home rapid test orders 'commandeered'
Council works budget of $18M for next financial year
Residents call for more time for rates submissions
Australia Day celebrations cancelled at Pearl Beach
Beach safety brochure produced for Pearl Beach
Two books to be discussed by book club
Lions club resumes monthly car boot sale
GUST founder wins Council environment award
Planting trees for leafy, shady streets
Business award to local Rotary member
Seniors' diaries offered for free
Rainfall is less than half January average
Collapse  PLANNING PLANNING
Ettalong foreshore rezoning allowed to proceed
Dual occupancy application has detailed arborist report
Panel stands by its refusal of Ettalong development
Council to consider registering kiosk lease
Council to employ more regulatory planners
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Dangerous intersection becomes statistically safe
Responsibility remains for Rawson Rd level crossing
Treeless suburbs are literally killing us
More scrutiny needed in absence of character controls
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
First Aid training at the Bays hall
Trading hours cut due to staff shortage
Virus hospital admissions peak at 96
Leave a message for short-staffed PCYC
New chief at Umina aged care home
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Arts and crafts classes to start next week
Patchwork group holds social stitching day
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Five students achieve band six scores
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Umina Beach plays Minor Pairs final
'Faster' bike ride from Woy Woy
Outrigger club takes part in Newcastle regatta
Southern Spirit cricket results
Cricket results prior to last weekend
Under-70 bridge results
Twilight pairs at Ettalong

EXTRA!!!

[Download]

Aged care home rapid test orders 'commandeered'

Orders of rapid antigen tests for a local aged care home have been " commandeered by the Commonwealth for the National Stockpile", according to its chief executive.

"I have been extremely disappointed by the Commonwealth in their lack of support to us, and to the aged care sector as a whole, through this Omicron outbreak," said BlueWave Living chief executive Mr Matt Downie.

"We have not received any assistance to provide testing for our residents.

"We still cannot access PCR testing.

"We have not received any rapid tests from the Commonwealth Government, and have been reliant on our own supply.

"And we have now been advised that some of our forward orders of additional rapid tests have been commandeered by the Commonwealth for the National Stockpile.

"We are having to find alternative stock from a variety of suppliers," Mr Downie said.

"While we continue to work through these challenges, it would have been appreciated if the Commonwealth was actually supportive and appropriately resourced and prepared for this current outbreak.

"They have had over two years to prepare."

Mr Downie said the Woy Woy facility needed to continue in lockdown.

This required high levels of personal protective equipment, material changes in processes to minimise risk and a reliance on rapid screen testing.

"It is not pleasant working in N95 masks and face shields for long periods, and I thank all staff for their continued diligence in helping reduce risk to all at BlueWave," he said.

Mr Downie said: "We are having additional staff test positive every week.

"It seems as we have some staff clear their isolation, another tests positive.

"With the extremely high numbers of cases in the community, it is almost unavoidable that a small percentage of our workforce at any given time will have Covid.

"We continue to have zero cases amongst residents, and we continue to have additional infection control measures in place to limit the risk to our elder in care here.

"We continue to maintain high stock levels of personal protective equipment to accommodate these requirements."

Mr Downie reminded family and friends of residents: "You may certainly call to talk to your loved one in care".

"Please be patient, as we expect a high volume of calls coming through our main reception during this time as we manage this current outbreak.

"Also, we also encourage the use of video links via our tablets with Zoom.

"For any Covid-specific inquiries, you can email us at; covid@bluewaveliving.org.au."





Skip Navigation Links.

Skip Navigation Links.

Sign up here
to be notified
of the next

Peninsula
News
EXTRA!!!


http://bit.ly/PNExtra


Peninsula
Planning
Portal
HERE
     Phone 4342 5333     Email us. Copyright © 2022 The Peninsula's Own News Service Inc ABN 76 179 701 372    PO Box 585 Woy Woy NSW 2256