A care home boss has made a desperate appeal for help after residents and staff developed symptoms of coronavirus.

There have been two confirmed cases among residents at the Abbotswood nursing home in Ballasalla - and seven others showing symptoms. They have been isolated in a wing at the home.

Director and nurse manager Zandra Lewis said more than half of her staff have also shown symptoms and have all been tested for the virus.

She said: ’As a director and part-owner, a registered nurse myself who has done all the training, I have done everything to help my residents for the last 25 years.

’I have put my life - and it is my life - and my soul into my residents and my staff. We’ve dealt with norovirus year after year, dealt with lots of other things but nothing like this, this is different - it puts everybody’s lives and welfare at risk. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.’

Zandra accepts the Department of Health and Social Care provided what she describes as ’basic’ personal protection equipment such as surgical masks, goggles, gloves and aprons.

But she says since coronavirus was confirmed at Abbotswood, she hasn’t got enough staff to provide basic care.

She said: ’This isn’t about PPE any more. We’ve been given PPE, I wouldn’t say it’s adequate but it’s exactly what the staff at Noble’s have. What I’m asking for is help. What I need is staff. It’s just a nightmare.

’Last night we had four for the whole building. Nobody dies from not having the niceties like having your hair washed. But they do die from not having enough staff to provide the basic care.’

Zandra says more than half her workforce is off. Some are self-isolating, some are considered high risk because of their own health conditions and others are anxious about coming to work given the Covid outbreak.

But she added: ’Probably in the region of 25 staff are showing symptoms.’

She reckons the home, which is privately owned but also accommodates NHS residents, needs at least four extra staff on nights, another three on days and two domestics to clean the premises.

agency

Zandra says she has tried every agency but cannot get anybody. ’They won’t come in,’ she said. ’The hospital also say they can’t send me anyone.’

The Abbotswood home closed to visitors before the first case was identified in the island.

Staff went into lockdown with the residents but that lockdown had to be lifted when those in the second team started pulling out for fear of risk of Covid infection.

Two weeks later a resident developed a high temperature. He was taken to hospital with what was thought to be a condition unrelated to coronavirus.

A second resident, a 91-year-old, is also in Noble’s having developed symptoms. She was tested last Monday and the result came back on Wednesday confirming she has the virus.

Subsequently, a test result for the other resident in hospital came back positive. Both have mild symptoms.

Seven other residents in the home are displaying mild symptoms and Zandra says they, and the two in hospital, are all ’holding their own’.

Since the first test was carried out on Monday, all residents have been self-isolating in their own rooms.

’I think the residents must be scared,’ said Zandra.

Some volunteers have come forward to help. But some say they can only go into Abbotswood if they are provided with full personal protection equipment.

A couple of managers from other care homes have also offered assistance and one has even provided them with full hazmat (hazardous materials) suits.

In a statement, the DHSC said it was closely monitoring and supporting the care home.

needs

It said: ’Both residents were transferred to the inpatient Covid-19 ward at Noble’s Hospital in response to their specific clinical needs, and contact tracing is under way.

’The DHSC’s infection prevention and control team has offered significant on-site support for staff looking after residents at the home, before and during the outbreak.

’This includes training in best practice to avoid infection spread, advice on social distancing and appropriate use of personal protective equipment, supplies of which continue to be provided.

’Daily contact and regular visits by IPC staff are assisting in the management of the home, so that its residents can continue to live there comfortably and safely as the current situation demands.

’Practical changes have seen an isolation area created where other residents with symptoms awaiting results are isolating within their rooms.

’In the meantime, all communal activities have been stopped, affected rooms have been deep cleaned and enhanced cleaning regimes commenced at the facility.

’Additional guidance in safe laundry practices and disposal of waste has also been offered to staff, while staff have been reminded about the best ways to ensure respiratory and hand hygiene for themselves and residents.’

Health Minister David Ashford said: ’We recognised throughout our planning that residents of care homes are particularly vulnerable, and have made extensive efforts to support homes in shielding them from coronavirus.

’Now that, unfortunately, there are confirmed cases in a nursing home, we continue to be committed to support the frontline care workers and their leadership team through an unprecedented situation which has presented new challenges for us all.’

pathways

He added: ’We have clear pathways on how and when it is safe to manage a patient with confirmed coronavirus in their home, including in a nursing home, and this includes the PPE required.

’Sustaining this community provision is clearly vital, so that the hospital can continue to receive and treat the sickest patients. More broadly we will continue to liaise closely with and support staff in all of the island’s other nursing and residential facilities as appropriate.’