Hastings County has taken two major steps in its Long Term Care facilities’ fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a virtual meeting of county council on Thursday, CAO Jim Pine reported that the steps taken fall in line with recommendations that the Ontario Long Term Care Commission is making to the government to improve infection control.
They apply to both Hastings Manor in Belleville and Centennial Manor in Bancroft.
Earlier in the summer, the county created a new position of assistant director of nursing, with specific responsibilities for infection control at Hasting Manor in Belleville.
Now the county has decided to do the same at Centennial Manor in Bancroft.
Pine emphasized, “We’ve added in additional duties around housekeeping as well. For that position it makes sense for a reorganization but the important thing is to get that professional position in place, on staff for Centennial Manor as well. That’s one of the key recommendations that the commission is saying the government needs to put in place.”
The Commission is also recommending priority testing for long term care homes, and for paramedics.
The county has adopted that practice, not only for its homes but will make the arrangement for other homes in the Quinte area as well.
CAO Pine adds, “Other recommendation in the early report from the commission is around establishing priority testing results for long term care staff who get tested and might be symptomatic. Long term care staff and paramedic services, together with Quinte Health Care, arranged to establish priority testing of the results for operations of long term care, not only for our homes, but for all long term care homes in Hastings and Prince Edward at the lab in Belleville in Quinte Health Care. We will be able to get results within in 24 hours, as I understand it…Of course, the paramedics are included in that.”
Results will be provided within 24 hours.
Pine emphasized the cooperation among all the services including Quinte Health care.
“I just want to acknowledge the really strong connection that we’ve made with Quinte Health Care and Loyalist College who’ve been helpful as well on this issue. Locally, we know how to work together and it’s a good example of that working together in these important times. We won’t have to wait for results for long term care and paramedics now because we’ll have that capacity at Quine Health Care.”
