Langley care home mistakes corrected following repeated safety protocol violations: Fraser Health
Posted September 17, 2020 4:38 pm.
Last Updated September 17, 2020 5:08 pm.
LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) — Mistakes made during B.C.’s deadliest outbreak of COVID-19 have been corrected, according to the Fraser Health Authority.
After a confidential 30-page report was leaked to Glacier Media, the health authority says stronger safety measures are in place at Langley Lodge where 26 people died as a result of the outbreak.
RELATED: Mistakes, bad decisions led to dozens of COVID-19 deaths at Langley care home, leaked report shows
.@Fraserhealth reports mistakes made during #BC‘s deadliest #COVID19 outbreak have been corrected.
This, after someone leaked a confidential report about @LangleyLodge where 26 people died.
Early problems include someone leaving clean linens in same room as garbage. @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) September 18, 2020
The head of regional care integration, Norm Peters, says numerous changes have already been made.
“We’re providing onsite audits and education. If there is transmission, for the vast majority of our facilities, we’ve not only prevented transmission into the facility, but if it does occur, we were quickly able to contain it.”
Re: @LangleyLodge leaked report, Henry says audits done after every outbreak to figure out how to improve and @adriandix points out team approach has seen transmissions quickly contained in most care homes and YET more work must be done re: infection control. #bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) September 17, 2020
Peters admits other problems include staffing shortages linked to the province’s single site work order, which keeps care homes from sharing employees.
“The infrastructure itself is not similar to what we would see in acute care. We stress on creating home-like environments and at times, that challenges space that’s available for the storage of equipment. Is it acceptable that those items were in the same room? No, it is not.”
Re: Langley Lodge safety protocols not being followed, Henry says no one intends for that to happen and people who can not afford to stay home when they are sick still show up, so that’s why single site order and fair pay so important. #bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) September 17, 2020
The report also describes employees not being able keep dementia patients from wandering and possibly spreading the virus.
But Norm Peters says moving those seniors to an isolated ward at a hospital is not good for their already fragile mental health.
“We also have a focus on ensuring that our acute care capacity is available for people needing acute care treatment. It is best to first prevent the transmission of COVID. Second, if you’re in an outbreak, to effectively manage it and the site, which was done in the overall majority of facilities.”
Peters confirms no disciplinary action has been taken against one infected nurse accused of repeatedly violating safety and screening protocols.
The outbreak was declared over in July.
