Cover Story: Full Speed Ahead with Vaccinations

FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR VACCINATIONS

Vaccinating staff against COVID-19 is a top priority for Hall & Prior, who have been working hard throughout the pandemic to keep residents and staff safe and well. By Beverly Ligman. Images by Ammon Creative.

the Australian government has made it mandatory for all staff in aged care facilities to have received at least their first vaccination by September 17. Taking this as the impetus to be a leader in the field, Hall & Prior is proud to be the first Commonwealth-approved aged care provider in WA to offer in-house COVID-19 vaccinations to its staff - and more than meet the target set by Canberra. Throughout August and September, Hall & Prior has been holding in-house vaccination clinics at 11 of its homes across Perth to make it both easy and time-efficient for staff to get vaccinated.

On Monday, August 2, a special clinic was held at Hall & Prior’s Tuohy Aged Care Home in Midland to administer the first vaccines to staff.

The organisation’s two regional homes in Donnybrook and Albany are also holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics for staff in the south west and Great Southern regions of the state. Hall & Prior owns and operates 30 homes across WA and NSW, and has taken the initiative to vaccinate its staff to protect the vulnerable residents they care for in their homes.

Hall & Prior Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior said protecting staff from COVID-19 has the doubly vital benefit of protecting the Group’s residents. “Giving our residential aged care home staff the vaccine as a priority will help protect our residents who are some of the most vulnerable in our society,” Mr Prior said. “We’re very excited to be able to do this. We thank the Prime Minister for taking the steps to mandate all aged care staff to be vaccinated and the Commonwealth Department of Health for giving Hall & Prior the right under contract to deliver the Pfizer vaccine from the national stockpile to our staff. ”

Hall & Prior is an industry-leader in vaccinations - they have championed a free influenza vaccine for staff for the past decade, resulting in outstanding immunisation rates across the Group.

Giving our residential aged care home staff the vaccine as a priority will help protect . . . some of the most vulnerable in our society. “

As of June 1, 100 per cent of all eligible staff in WA and NSW had received the current influenza vaccination.

At the time of going to press, there had been a reassuringly positive uptake in attendance at the staff COVID-19 vaccination clinics, which goes a long way in further supporting vaccinations taking place in the community. Clinics will begin in NSW from September 6 across a number of homes.

Hall & Prior homes in WA will host COVID-19 vaccination clinics until mid-September, giving staff the chance to receive both of their shots and become fully vaccinated. “We look forward to working closely with the WA Department of Health on this initiative to help administer the vaccine across our homes, we’re very fortunate to have a dedicated team in place to support its safe and effective roll-out,” said Mr Prior. “We are all looking forward to rolling up our sleeves to get our double shot.” I’VE HAD MY COVID-19 VACCINATION

AIMING HIGH Hall & Prior has been holding in-house vaccination clinics at its homes in WA and is the first aged care provider to offer inhouse COVID-19 shots to its staff.

ON THE

airwaves

CEO GRAEME PRIOR was interviewed on ABC Radio recently (August 23) to talk about low vaccination rates in aged care with the September 17 mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations for aged care staff looming. He spoke to ABC Drive presenter Geoff Hutchison about a potential workforce crisis in the sector. “By the end of the time limit, I’m extremely confident that we will have all of our staff vaccinated except for those that have a medical exemption,” Graeme said. “By and large our staff have accepted that they need to have the vaccine. I believe that staff in the aged care sector are acutely aware of the vulnerability of the people we care for. By September 17, I think we’re going to be in a very good place. There will be some fallout, but it will by no means be a wipe out. Our view is that we’ll lose some staff, and although we won’t be able to replace these people overnight, we will step-up and make it happen. “Keeping our residents and staff safe and well is our number one priority at Hall & Prior.”

OPEN

DOORS

Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group has expanded its operations into the south west of Western Australia with the acquisition of Tuia Lodge in Donnybrook and in Sydney with Montana Aged Care Home.

The Group assumed full responsibility of the management and operations of the home from July 1, bringing the number of homes the organisation operates in WA to 17. The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup will remain the landlord of the home, with Hall & Prior taking on a 21-year lease as manager and operator of Tuia Lodge. Hall & Prior plans to refurbish the home and add an in-home community-based care program in future that will provide further jobs to the region as well as increased care options for the local community. “We are looking forward to becoming part of this wonderful town; our goal is to deliver premium health outcomes for local residents in a home that remains connected to the broader Donnybrook-Balingup community,” Graeme Prior, CEO of Hall & Prior, said. “This is an exciting time for the group as we continue to expand in both WA and NSW.” Residents at Tuia Lodge will benefit from Hall & Prior’s multi-disciplinary care program which includes 24/7 Registered Nurses and an in-house Allied Health team consisting of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dietitians and clinical specialists. “We will work closely with the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup and the WA Department of Health to deliver the worldclass health outcomes the people of the South West deserve,” Mr Prior added. Tuia Lodge has been a community success due largely to the support, commitment and significant fundraising by local volunteers.

Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup President Cr Brian Piesse said he was pleased to announce the transfer of Tuia Lodge to Hall & Prior. “The decision was made with the best interests of residents in mind. Hall & Prior have an excellent reputation for providing quality aged cares services,” Cr Piesse said.

“The Shire is confident that Hall & Prior is bestplaced to meet the needs of residents of Tuia Lodge now and into the future.”

To find out more about Tuia Lodge please visit hallprior.com.au or contact Director of Nursing Libby Simpson on (08) 9732 3500.

ALL SMILES This page, (l-r) Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup President Cr Brian Piesse shakes hands with Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior. Opposite, Montana Aged Care Home in NSW.

Meanwhile over in NSW, the Group is extending its acquisition strategy by taking over the management and operations of Montana Nursing Home in NSW from the end of July. Montana is located in the heart of Mosman, one of Sydney’s most prestigious lower north shore suburbs.

The 64-bed home was purpose-built with 54 single rooms and four two-bed companion or couple rooms on the ground and first floor level.

It has been delivering care to the Mosman community since 2002. “Hall & Prior is already part of Mosman - our Sirius Cove Aged Care Home is in Clanalpine Street, so this is an area that feels like home to us,” Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior said.

“As an aged care provider with almost 30 years’ experience in the sector, we will leverage our expertise from owning and operating aged care homes across NSW and to provide exceptional care to residents at Montana and their families.”

Montana is arranged over three storeys with a commercial kitchen, laundry and staff amenities. It also has dementia specific rooms on the ground floor for resident safety and your piece of mind. Hall & Prior also plans to refurbish the home and provide more modern amenities for Montana’s residents and their families to enjoy.

To find out more about Montana Aged Care Home please visit hallprior.com.au or contact Director of Nursing Donna Sunderland on (02) 8969 2600.