Warramunda answers the call faster than nation

By Jemma Jones

Nov 22, 2024

**PCA Billie Merritt, who is among the staff contributing to our outstanding call bell response time results.** Photo by Contributed

For residents of a Kyabram aged care facility, peace of mind comes from knowing help is just moments away.

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Residents at Warramunda Villiage only have to wait an average of one minute and 27 seconds to receive assistance from workers, a recent performance review found

Staff are celebrating the particularly speedy response time in particular due to its result being well under the national average which is over double Warramunda’s average.

The Australian standard for call bell response times in aged care is 3.57 minutes during day shifts, 3.70 minutes during evening shifts, and 3.42 minutes during night shifts.

The positive result is no surprise to Warramunda’s chief executive John Clark, who said it was a testament to the determination of staff who perform their duties at a high level - and quickly at that.

He said that staff are focused on providing the safest environment possible, and quick response times could prevent issues such as falls or pressure sores.

Warramunda also excelled in hand hygiene, achieving a remarkable 96 per cent compliance rate, well above the industry standard of 80 per cent.

Quality business partner Maggi Dighton said hand hygiene is a key part of infection prevention and control in aged care, and the best way to reduce risk of infection.

“Hand hygiene is considered the single most important strategy to reduce healthcare associated infections and applies to everyone, so the staff setting a high standard has (forgive the pun) rubbed off on the residents,” she said.