Coronavirus: care provider urges people to reconsider visiting relatives in Chichester carehome

A care provider has asked people to reconsider visiting relatives in a care home as concerns are raised over coronavirus.
Wellington Grange Care Home in Broyle Road. Picture via Google StreetviewWellington Grange Care Home in Broyle Road. Picture via Google Streetview
Wellington Grange Care Home in Broyle Road. Picture via Google Streetview

Colten Care said staff are doing 'everything they can' to keep residents, relatives and staff staff from the coronavirus.

The group manages Wellington Grange care home in Broyle Road and has also cancelled events at the home and trips into the community as a precaution.

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The group's chief executive has issued a statement amid the virus' outbreak.

Mark Aitchison, chief executive of Colten Care said: "Up to now, and fully in line with advice from Public Health England, we have taken a range of steps such as requiring all visitors to our homes to wash their hands immediately on entry.

"Now, reflecting the changing situation here in the UK and across the world, we are going further and strengthening our preventative measures. Effective from today, we ask relatives and friends of residents to think twice about whether a visit is really necessary.

"If you feel you must visit, please be mindful that for ALL visitors entering the home, in addition to hand washing, we will require additional procedures to be followed. At the moment these will be completing a questionnaire to confirm you have no virus symptoms and have not travelled from any affected areas.

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"We are also making arrangements for your temperature to be taken. It is obviously your choice whether you wish to do this. However, their completion will be mandatory for anyone to enter the home.

"If you already have any concerns about your own health, we politely ask you not to come.

"As a further protection, we are restricting children’s access to our homes, so we request you do not bring any under-16s with you if you visit.

"Until further notice, we are also putting on hold all the usual community visits and events we host at our homes and restricting minibus trips for our residents. We have also put in place measures to restrict the visits from our Colten House Support Staff and external contractors to essential only. Wherever possible we are also restricting our staff from visiting multiple homes.

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"Strengthening our measures is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we understand the distress it may cause. In due course we may need to take further steps, we will of course keep all residents, relatives and staff fully informed.

"At the moment we consider these steps to be a proportionate approach to keep everyone safe and our homes operating normally and without undue restrictions. This is all about managing a potential risk that could go on for weeks or months.

"Please be reassured that we will of course continue to ensure that community healthcare professionals can make medical visits to residents as required.

"Our overriding aim is to ensure everyone stays safe and our team members can continue to provide the excellent standard of care our residents and families expect and deserve.

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"In challenging times like these, we want people to be reassured that Colten Care is a safe haven for the delivery of care.

"We will continue to follow the very best public health advice and update you in line with any changes to what we are doing.

"If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Manager.

"Thank you in advance for your understanding and co-operation."