Covid vaccine rolls out to West Norfolk care homes

Staff at care homes across West Norfolk were among the first in the area to receive the Covid-19 vaccine last week and resident vaccinations will start next week.

Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital has vaccinated over 1,200 patients over 80, care home staff and hospital staff within just four days.

Dawn Bunter, manager at Iceni House Care Home in Downham Market, said: “We’re doing well, we haven’t been as badly affected as some care homes and our staff all had our first vaccines last week. It’s a massive relief. Now we all have a much better understanding of what we’re facing so it makes it easier to be proactive.

“The on/off isolation is always difficult for residents but we were piloting a scheme to test visitors, we’re just waiting for the guidance to start that again so we can get people back in to visit. It really does make a big difference to residents emotionally.”

Downham Grange Nursing Home, in Clackclose Road, Downham, has experienced an outbreak of Covid with a number of residents and staff testing positive.

The home has been closed to all but essential visits and Eugene Nyamande, director of compliance at Kingsley Healthcare Group, said: “Daily testing is being carried out at the home to monitor the outbreak.”

He confirmed Downham Grange was still awaiting the arrival of the vaccine but, in light of the outbreak, he anticipated that the home would be given early priority for the new Oxford Astra Zenica vaccine.

Despite fears of growing numbers of Covid cases in West Norfolk care homes, managers across the area were reporting low figures.

Alison Lowe, manager at Terrington Lodge, said: “So far we have not had one positive Covid case here for staff or residents. I’m sure it’s just luck as I know all care homes have been doing all they can to keep everyone safe, but it probably also helps that we are in a smaller village.

“Most of the staff here have already had the vaccine, I had mine on New Year’s Day at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It’s a step in the right direction. Our residents will be getting the vaccine from next week at the Lodge by someone from the local surgery.”

NorseCare manages care homes across West Norfolk including Burman House in Terrington St John, Cranmer House in Fakenham, High Haven in Downham, Rebecca Court in Heacham, Westfields In Swaffham and Woodlands in Lynn.

Currently they have no outbreaks of the virus, an outbreak requires two or more staff members, or residents, to test positive for Covid-19.

So far 200 of the NorseCare’s staff across Norfolk and into Suffolk have been vaccinated.

Martin Rix, chief operating officer for NorseCare, said: “We have been working hard over the past few weeks to prepare for the vaccine roll out, and we are more than ready. This is to ensure that when it becomes available to any of our residents or homes that we can act immediately, and we can safely support its delivery to the people we care for.

“As you would expect, NorseCare, our residents and their families are eagerly anticipating the roll-out programme and, until that time, we are doing everything we can to keep those we care for and those who work for us as safe as possible in what is a very challenging time.”