Measures that have helped this North East care home avoid a single case of coronavirus

A range of innovative measures have helped a local care home avoid any cases of coronavirus among residents and staff.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Despite the best efforts of care homes both locally and nationally many have experienced cases of Covid-19 and sadly deaths.

Abbeyvale Care Centre in Blackhall Colliery says it has been extremely lucky not to have had any cases.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The home has implemented a range of measures which have proved successful in keeping staff and residents safe.

Senior Carer at Abbeyvale Care Centre, Amy Obrien (front) with staff Shiela Jones, Sophie Richards, Gail Tate, Shauna Gravestone, Kelly Veitch, Leonard Maziva Dundo, Linda Headley and Sophie Lewis. Picture by Frank ReidSenior Carer at Abbeyvale Care Centre, Amy Obrien (front) with staff Shiela Jones, Sophie Richards, Gail Tate, Shauna Gravestone, Kelly Veitch, Leonard Maziva Dundo, Linda Headley and Sophie Lewis. Picture by Frank Reid
Senior Carer at Abbeyvale Care Centre, Amy Obrien (front) with staff Shiela Jones, Sophie Richards, Gail Tate, Shauna Gravestone, Kelly Veitch, Leonard Maziva Dundo, Linda Headley and Sophie Lewis. Picture by Frank Reid

They have included going into lockdown early, widespread testing, staff changing into their work clothes on site, and daily temperature checks.

Abbeyvale manager Julie Shield said: “All care homes have worked really, really hard. We have just been very lucky.

“My heart goes out to other homes that have had it. It’s heartrending.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

From March 12, the home was closed to all but essential visitors, but has recently started to hold some socially distanced visits with family members separated by a perspex screen.

Abbeyvale Care Centre senior carer Amy O'brien. Picture by Frank ReidAbbeyvale Care Centre senior carer Amy O'brien. Picture by Frank Reid
Abbeyvale Care Centre senior carer Amy O'brien. Picture by Frank Reid

Abbeyvale bought 101 new uniforms – two per staff member – with staff changing into them in a dedicated area on arrival and being laundered on site.

Charlotte Lumley, operations manager for the home’s operators Essential Care and Support, said: “The home has been very innovative in their approach. We made the difficult decision to lockdown early but it has stood us in good stead.

“When the Government agreed all care homes could have a test the full home, all staff and residents, was tested.

“Everybody came back negative which was fantastic.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

All staff and residents have their temperatures taken twice a day, and Abbeyvale is installing new less invasive thermal imaging cameras in the entrance and dining rooms.

“They will immediately alert the management team if someone has a higher temperature than expected,” added Charlotte. The person would be asked to isolate immediately and get tested.

Staff also completed risk assessments with a particular focus on ethnic minorities to ensure the home was doing everything it could to safeguard them.

Despite the current situation, staff training has not been interrupted, and various activities to keep residents' spirits up have been organised including hosting a singer in the car park.

Read More
Read more: Fall in Hartlepool care home virus deaths

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

Related topics: