Officials at Fairfield Park are trying to clear the air over concerns about staff being given improper PPE.
Tracey Maxim, administrator of the Wallaceburg long term care facility says surgical masks recently delivered by a long-standing supplier were mislabeled. However, once the issue was brought to their attention, Maxim says the masks were immediately pulled from use.
Since then, a report from the supplier confirms the masks in question are safe for medical use and meet all requirements set out by Health Canada and the provincial government.
However, Maxim says an internal investigation on the safety of the masks will be done with input from public health and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
“We welcome any reviews of our infection prevention and control measures from the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, and/or the Ministry of Long-Term Care,” Maxim says. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been working closely with our Ministry partners, Public Health and our local health system leaders to manage our response to COVID-19.”
Maxim says the supplier’s report on the masks’ efficacy has been passed on to the home’s internal health and safety community and Unifor.
“We have implemented and continue to follow all new and ongoing infection prevention and control measures as directed by the province,” Maxim says. “These ongoing measures include the use of appropriate personal protective equipment at all times, enhanced cleaning measures, twice daily symptom monitoring of all residents and staff, and isolating residents to their rooms with in-room meal service. In addition, we are conducting weekly testing of residents and staff.”