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Nursing homes are now looking to buy their own Covid-19 test kits after the Ministry of Health refused to test new admissions.
Photo: 123RF
On Monday, a fourth rest home was named as a group of 10 or more cases, this time in Auckland.
And a third death was revealed in one of those groups, involving residents of the Rosewood Rest Home in Christchurch.
The Association for the Care of the Elderly, which represents 600 nursing homes, asked the Ministry of Health 10 days ago for all new admissions to nursing homes to detect the virus.
The association’s chief executive, Simon Wallace, said the answer was no.
“There is unused capacity. The government has said they can test 40,000 tests per week. All we ask for is 700 per week. That’s the number of resident admissions we have nationwide in nursing homes.”
“We don’t think it is an unreasonable position to ask for 700 out of 40,000.”
The latest deaths showed how vulnerable the elderly were, and if there were no changes in the ministry’s stance, nursing homes would try to obtain their own evidence, he said.
“Our call around testing, we have made that call in response to what families are asking for, in response to what our membership is asking for, to show confidence in the industry and demonstrate confidence in the industry. Unfortunately, our requests have fallen on deaf ears. “
The three Rosewood seniors who have died so far were out of a group of 33 confirmed or probable rest-home related cases, comprised of 13 residents, 18 employees and two close staff contacts.
The Ministry of Health said that given the residents’ underlying age and health conditions, there was a possibility of more serious illness or death.
Wallace said his thoughts were with the families and with the owner of Rosewood.
“I have spoken to the owner of the rest home and he is obviously very upset with the situation and is working to the best of his ability to get involved and cooperate with the DHB. Obviously, the safety and well-being of the residents is paramount, but this too it’s their business too. So it’s sad in every way. “
The Rosewood Rest Home and Hospital in Christchurch.
Photo: google maps
The Canterbury District Board of Health said that given the restriction on visitors to the Rosewood dementia unit where the outbreak occurred, it is highly likely that a staff member brought the virus.
Wallace said that in addition to new admissions, nursing home staff should also be tested for the virus.
Kerri Nuku
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Nurses Organization kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said mandatory staff testing was something her union would need to discuss before giving it the green light.
Health workers were already taking extraordinary steps to keep residents and patients safe, he said.
“When these nurses go home from work every night, some of them are sleeping in the car garage, because they don’t want to contaminate themselves with the family, or are using a separate bathroom or something. So I think it’s not because the people don’t be cautious. “
Nuku said some DHBs were still reluctant to give staff access to personal protective equipment and was pleased to learn that the Ministry of Health was considering whether they should be taken care of by handing it over.
“Because it is so patchy, I think our nurses will feel reassured if someone gets the right flow to their services. If that means taking it back to the ministry, so be it, but our nurses want to feel like the supply is on request. that we should still have access to that PPE team. “
Canterbury DHB confirmed yesterday that a staff member at Burwood Hospital, where Rosewood residents were being cared for, had contracted the virus and was now recovering at home.
He said that after contact tracing, a small number of coworkers were also isolated in their home.
He said that all staff caring for residents used PPE and was now investigating how the staff member contracted the virus.
The Ministry of Health said testing is only one way to keep nursing home residents and staff safe, along with good infection prevention control and access to PPE.
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