Covid-19 outbreak contained at Amesbury care home
Staff praised for swift response
Last updated 3rd Mar 2021
It's emerged Buckland Court care home suffered an outbreak of Covid-19 in January which resulted in the deaths of several residents.
The Orders of St John Care Trust, which run the facility in South Mill Road, have not confirmed how many elderly people died.
Janet Pannell, OSJCT's Regional Director for Wiltshire, said that she had been immensely proud at the speed at which her colleagues in the home brought the infection under control.
"It was with great sadness that some of our residents lost their lives in this outbreak. We are very close with the residents who live in our homes and their families and this was undoubtedly a challenging time.
"The speed at which colleagues in the home brought this under control undoubtedly prevented more infections and there hasn't been a positive test among residents since 20 January. "
The Trust stress the "variant of COVID-19 had a very high transmission rate" making it "very difficult" to pinpoint how an infection may have been brought into the home.
An infection control visit by Wiltshire Council concluded that protocols were being followed and added just two minor recommendations; that two soft toys in the homes were washed and that PPE stations had drawers to avoid cross-contamination through inadvertent handling.
Janet added:
"As a Trust we have had stringent infection control measures in place from the first moment that that virus entered the UK and continue to follow all Government guidance on this matter - sometimes going further if we feel that measures do not sufficiently protect residents and our colleagues."
Cllr Simon Jacobs, Wiltshire Council Member for Public Health and Protection said,
"There have sadly been a number of deaths in this care home during the current COVID outbreak and our thoughts go out to those who have died, their families who have lost a loved one and to the staff. We are working with the home to support their staff who are doing this important job in very difficult circumstances."