Bupa sets up hotline for families and friends of residents – CEO issues update to staff as head office staff member tests positive

Bupa has set up a seven-day-a-week hotline for relatives and friends of its aged care residents to answer questions about the steps the provider is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its aged care homes. Bupa CEO Hisham El-Ansary (pictured above) has also updated staff on the measures the organisation is taking in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in a five-and-a-half-minute video. You can check it out here. Mr El-Ansary reveals Bupa’s crisis management team is meeting on a daily basis, saying they recognise the impact of taking action quickly – even when not all the information is on the table. Bupa has already had its first confirmed case in their Sydney office, which was deep cleaned with support offered to the staff member and their family and contact tracing completed. The CEO says he expects to see more cases however, and has extended paid leave arrangements to all staff who need to self-isolate or test positive. Interestingly, Bupa is one provider who is allowing visits – but these are very limited, with all visitors required to wear gloves and masks on entry to a home and undergo a temperature check. Visits must also be pre-booked with a limit of one visitor per resident per day in their room for a maximum of 30 minutes in place.