Yew Tree Place, Romsley, West Midlands B62 0NX
01562 710 809
Coronavirus Risk Assessment June 2020
Please find above links to our Covid-19 Risk assessment and compliance declaration. If you have any queries with regards to the information continued within the documents please speak to Carol Lightwood on 01562 710 809 option 3.
CQC Engagement and Support Call
We recently completed a telephone engagement and support call with the CQC in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently the CQC are not undertaking routine inspections services through the pandemic and will instead be maintaining contact with providers through existing monitoring arrangements and by undertaking engagement and support calls. A link to the report in result to the recent communication with the CQC can be found at the top the page.
Hello and welcome to your June newsletter from a quiet and sombre Yew Tree Nursing Home. Normally around this time we are excitedly planning our garden party and talking about all of the exciting things we have planned. But sadly like most things this has been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.
The last two weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for all the staff following the devasting results of our home testing process. As you are already aware we had fourteen residents test positive to the Covid virus which meant sadly our VIP area was not large enough to accommodate. Most of the residents who tested positive were asymptomatic meaning they showed no symptoms so we were unaware of the number of residents who would be affected.
Results started to be delivered on the Friday following the test however most weren’t received until the Sunday morning. Following the delivery of the first results was a stressful seventy two hours ending early hours Monday morning while Carol and I moved residents within the home so we could create a larger VIP exclusion zone.
The VIP area was managed by a dedicated team of staff who looked after all of the needs of the residents who tested positive and proved to be our saving grace with stopping the spread of the virus running throughout the home.
We did complete an additional test for all residents who tested negative to ensure that no further residents where asymptomatic following the 14 date incubation period which came back as negative.
The VIP area has now returned to the original six bed unit ready should the need arise again. The unit will be kept available for the next couple of months while we monitor the ongoing situation.
I would like to reassure everyone once again that since the outbreak we have had no problems with obtaining PPE and continue to have excellent stock levels.
Hello from lockdown at a quiet Yew Tree. We hope you are keeping safe?.
It seems like forever since I have written a newsletter so wanted to just send you a little hello and update you all on what we have been up to since the lock down began.
Firstly we would like to say a thank you to all the friends and families who have adhered to the no visiting rule we know this is a difficult time for everyone and really appreciate all you have done to support us in this fight against the pandemic. We will however do everything we can to assist keeping the links to family open. We can provide video calls either via Facebook or Zoom, Telephone calls via the nursing home system and you can send normal post through the usual channels. If families would like to drop off any items for their loved ones, then there is a box located by the front door with deliveries. Please note that all items will be wiped with antibacterial wipes before going into the home or kept for 72 hours outside so please bear this in mind. The procedure for dropping off items is. Please place the bag, labelled for whom the items are for, by the front door, ring the doorbell and step back behind the barriers. A staff member will collect the delivery as soon as they may be able however please bear in mind there may be a delay if they are busy.
We would also like to say a huge thank you to all the families and friends who have sent the staff cards, letters and gifts showing your appreciation of all the works we have done to protect the Yew Tree family they really are appreciated.
The weather has been very good to us since the lock down began so we are encouraging as many residents that are able to, to enjoy the outdoors while the weather is warm. If any resident would like to visit the garden then please speak to a staff member at anytime…………..
Welcome to your March Gazette and would you believe that Spring is fast approaching although with the amount of weather changes we’ve had since Christmas who knows what the season will bring.
In the gardens you may have noticed that Merry Legs has arrived at last. On the day of arrival you may have heard a lot of neighing from Merry Legs as she announced her arrival with such fan fair for all to hear and in return Duncan did some very proud prancing and lots of sniffing through the fence as they made friends. We had intended to start with a slow introduction so Duncan would have time to get used to having another pony around. However Duncan’s charms were just too much to resist and Merry legs decided she wanted to be with him almost immediately so the full meet and great was escalated very quickly. We did a very short introduction on the Sunday which resulted in Duncan showing more interest in Merry Legs new stable and treats rather than Merry Legs herself but he did eventually say hello. Followed by a full introduction and trot into the paddock by both ponies on the Monday.
Merry Legs has since become Duncan’s shadow and where ever he may be you can rest assured she’s not far away with even a little nudge out of the way for Duncan whenever food is involved. We will be keeping them apart on weekends and evenings at present so Duncan can have a little rest for a while, as sometimes Husbands needs a little break every now and again, well that’s what John tells me anyway.
So everyone please join me in welcoming Merry Legs to the Yew Tree Family. John has provided carrots and apples by the paddock which your are welcoming to give to the ponies should you wish……..
In our January Gazette we advised you of the inspection we received from the CQC and we were awaiting the results which we have now received. A copy of the full report is available in reception, from the office or the CQC website which can be obtained from the link on our website. In summary I can confirm we received requires improvement in Safe and in Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well Led we received the good rating. With our overall rating being GOOD. The reason provided for the requires improvement was due to thickener in use on the side in the lounge and a couple of bottle of creams found in the reading room which was in the process of being distributed. We would like to reassure all of our residents and their families that this matter was immediately rectified within 48 hours of the inspection and new cabinets are now located in the lounges and in residents bedrooms. The other area he was unhappy with was the CCTV which we mentioned in our last newsletter. However we having been speaking to residents, families and staff and most people we have spoken to are more than happy with the installation of the system and the couple of people who weren’t 100% sure about the idea understood the reason for the system and had no problems signing their consent. But over all the report was positive and showed he did see all of the good that we all work towards.
Well Done Everyone on all your hard work!!!!…………..