Bupa Sunshine COVID-19 outbreak closed

UPDATE Wednesday 2 September 11:00am

Bupa Sunshine remains closed to visitors while Melbourne is in Stage 4 restrictions, but residents aren’t letting that get their spirits down.

Mary Parkinson, pictured, has been keeping in touch with her daughter Aileen via video calls.

“Well there’s nothing much we can do about the lockdown really, we don’t get to see our family much but keeping in touch via the telephone or iPad is a great way to see their faces.

“I’m Looking forward to getting home after lockdown to see my cat Annie and daughter’s dog, Sadie and give my great granddaughter Remy a great big hug,” said Mary.

UPDATE Friday 21 August 11:00am:

We are pleased to update that the COVID-19 outbreak at Bupa Sunshine has now been closed.

Bupa Sunshine received the advice from the Department of Health on Thursday 20 August, following negative testing and a period of active surveillance.

While this is great news for our care home, and a credit to the hard work of the team, we remain vigilant in our infection control processes.

We thank everyone connected to the home for their patience and support throughout the past month.

UPDATE Thursday 6 August 4:00pm:

Bupa is pleased to advise, after a third round of COVID-19 testing at our Sunshine (VIC) aged care home, all residents’ and staff results have been received, with all results determined as negative.

The Victorian Public Health Unit has now confirmed that the home will be de-escalated to an ‘active surveillance stage’. 

Our residents at Bupa’s aged care home in Sunshine are in good spirits and are now permitted to move freely around the home, while still maintaining social distancing rules.

Our care staff will continue to follow the home’s outbreak management plan, and to closely monitor the health and safety of all our residents and team members. This means remaining vigilant for COVID-19 symptoms and continuing to undertake and record daily clinical observations.

While receiving the negative test results is a pleasing outcome and a testament to the strict infection control protocols our staff have maintained, we will continue to do whatever is necessary to keep our residents safe. This means maintaining the highest levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procedures, cleaning and infection control. The home is resourced to be able to do this.

Bupa Sunshine wishes to thank its dedicated staff for their courage and dedication, and its residents, their families, and the Sunshine community for the support and goodwill extended in the past weeks.

UPDATE Thursday 30 July 1pm:

We are pleased to advise that following a second round of COVID-19 testing at Bupa Sunshine, all residents have again received negative results.

We are expecting a third round of testing to take place in the coming days and will let those connected to the home know as soon as we have a date confirmed by the Public Health Unit.

UPDATE Monday 27 July, 12pm:

We are still waiting on results from second round testing and will be in touch with relatives with loved ones in the home as soon as we have more information.

UPDATE Wednesday 22 July, 11am

To date, all test results we have received have been negative. A second round of testing will occur later this week.

Watch this video to learn more on Bupa’s COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan.

UPDATE Tuesday 21 July, 1:00pm 

We have been in contact with relatives of Bupa Sunshine to let them know that all residents have returned negative tests.

We are awaiting some staff test results, however all those received so far have also been negative. We will update again when we have more information.

The Bupa Sunshine employee who previously tested positive continues to self-isolate, and will not return to work for at least three weeks from the date of their positive test, and on further advice from the public health unit. 

UPDATE Sunday 19 July

Three team members at Bupa Edithvale and Sunshine care homes record positive COVID-19 tests 

One contractor and one employee at Bupa’s Edithvale (VIC) aged care home, and one employee at Bupa Sunshine (VIC) care home have recorded positive COVID-19 tests.

• The Edithvale contractor’s last shift was on Thursday 16 July. They were not showing symptoms at the beginning of their shift, but developed a temperature and left early to get tested. It is not known where they contracted the virus from.

• The Edithvale employee had not worked at the care home for over a week when they received their positive test on Saturday 18 July. They were tested as a close contact of a positive case not connected to our care home, and have not displayed any symptoms. At this stage, we do not believe these two cases in Edithvale are connected.

• The Sunshine employee last worked at the home on Sunday 12 July and they did not have any symptoms at the time. Other members of their household were informed on Tuesday 14 July that they’d tested positive, and the Bupa staff member was notified of their positive result late on Wednesday 15 July.

Bupa continues to maintain contact with the three team members to offer support. All are now in self-isolation.

Bupa’s Outbreak Management Plan:

Bupa immediately activated its COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan at both homes and is working closely with the Department of Health & Human Services to minimise the risk of other potential infections in the homes.

All residents at Bupa Sunshine have returned negative tests. We are awaiting some staff test results. 

All staff and residents at Edithvale will undergo COVID-19 testing today, Sunday 19 July.

We continue to closely monitor the health of all residents and staff at both homes.

Communities within each home have been physically isolated from one another as per our Outbreak Management Plan and residents are undergoing clinical observations twice daily.

Staff are wearing PPE at all times during their shifts, as they have been for several weeks, including gowns when administering close care to residents. All staff are temperature screened on arrival at the home, and deep cleaning of all hard surfaces has been arranged, along with increased frequency of cleaning shifts.

Staying in touch with residents’ loved ones

We are in regular contact with the relatives of both homes to keep them informed and to offer support.

While all our Victorian care homes have been temporarily closed to visitors since Wednesday 8 July, Bupa will ensure residents can continue to communicate with their loved ones through virtual means.

We thank our employees, residents and their families community for their support and understanding during this challenging time.

For more information on Bupa Edithvale, click here.

For more information on COVID-19 and Bupa Aged Care, click here.