Silverline Care outlines measures taken in light of the ongoing issues concerning Coronavirus

Wednesday, 11 March 2020

SILVERLINE CARE AND THE UK CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Safeguarding the health, safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Colleagues is top priority at Silverline Care.

As such, we have taken comprehensive action to prepare for and respond to the ongoing issues concerning the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.

Please read below for the latest advise from Silverline Care regarding the steps we are taking at our homes and support offices. This information is intended for Residents, Colleagues, Stakeholders and Visitors to our homes only. Our plans will be kept under regular review and updated as advised by the public health authorities.

Information regarding the coronavirus, and a list of questions can be found on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/common-questions/

Before visiting a Silverline Care care home

Silverline Care homes remain open to visitors, but we are taking steps to minimise the risk of infection to our Residents and Colleagues.

Before visiting any of our homes, please consider the following:

Is your visit essential? We are currently advising visitors to only enter a Silverline Care home if it is necessary to do so. If you can delay your visit or achieve its purpose via another method (i.e. through a phone call or video call) please do so.

Are you currently feeling unwell? Please do not visit a  Silverline Care home for any reason if you currently feel unwell, particularly if you have a cough, a fever or high-temperature, or have shortness of breath.

Have you recently been abroad or been in close contact with someone who has? Please do not visit one of our homes if you, a partner or a dependent has recently returned from a Category 1 or Category 2 country, as defined on the NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-travellers/

If you are unsure whether you should visit, or if there are exceptional circumstances that mean a visit is necessary despite the conditions above, please speak to the Home Manager before visiting the home. Phone numbers for all homes are listed on the individual home pages https://www.silverlinecare.com/our-homes/our-homes/

How to safely visit a Silverline Care home

Having considered the above information, if you are still planning to visit a Silverline Care home it is important that you do so safely and in a way that minimises the risk of infection to our Residents and Colleagues.  Therefore, before visiting and whilst on site, please consider the following:

Hand washing. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly before you visit the care home, and regularly whilst you are at the home. Please make sure you wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds, using either hot water and soap or 60% alcohol sanitiser gel. The NHS has a video guide to effective handwashing, which you can see https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

Coughs and sneezes. We understand there are many reasons why someone may have a cough or sneeze. However, whilst visiting a Silverline Care home please make sure you have a tissue on you at all times so that you can catch a cough or sneeze. Please then immediately dispose of the tissue in the bin.

Remember – Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.

Protecting our Residents and Colleagues

Please be assured that Silverline Care is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.

Our management team are regularly reviewing guidance and contingency plans will develop in response to the evolving situation. The team will continue to meet regularly and action all appropriate advice from Public Health authorities to keep the business operating within the guidance given.

We are working to ensure that our residents remain as unaffected as possible.

However, it is important to bear in mind that every year Silverline Care prepares to respond to infectious diseases, including a severe flu outbreak. We will continue to take all the necessary steps to protect our residents and colleagues against this new virus.