THE general manager of a Glen Innes nursing home, which has been placed under sanction because of “serious risks” to its residents, says he is shocked by the order.
The Department of Health and Ageing placed Glenwood Gardens, in Glen Innes in the New England Highlands, under sanction on Thursday on advice from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.
The agency identified “serious risks” to the home’s 43 residents.
These included inadequate nutrition and hydration, inadequate skin care, inadequate pain management practices, inappropriate ad-ministration of medication, and inadequate monitoring of care and referrals to health professionals.
Staff at the home also were accused of “failing to recognise the decline in residents’ health and failing to respond properly”, the department said.
It is the first sanction of non-compliance with accreditation standards in a NSW nursing home in 18 months.
When asked if the news had come as a shock and surprise to the home, general manager Colin Francis said, “You might say that ... very much so”.
In a statement, Mr Francis said the home staff “acknowledged the findings of the report and are taking immediate action to address the issues raised therein”.
He said the home had assured the community there were no immediate issues affecting the health and safety of the home’s residents.
Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said the findings were “absolutely outrageous” and “upsetting”.
“We’ve got standards for nursing homes right across the nation, and homes that don’t meet those standards will have very serious action taken. It’s as straightforward as that,” she said.
“I think it’s absolutely outrageous and that’s why I’m really strict and really tough about it and I make no apologies at all ... they’ve got no excuses and that’s why in this case the sanctions are in place.
“It’s very upsetting when you see some of the details there,” she added.
“We need to make sure that people can access care.”
The sanctions will last until April 2, 2009.
They will include daily on-site visits from accreditation agency assessors, the appointment of a specialist nurse adviser, staff training in
clinical care and no Commonwealth funding for new residents.
Ms Elliot said there were currently 12 nursing homes across Australia under sanction, from a total of nearly 3000.
“The vast majority do a really good job,” she said, but added that a strict compliance system was essential.
“We have to have the ongoing enforcement (of compliance) and that’s what we do right throughout the nation all of the time ... it’s the only way that we can improve the situation,” she said.
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency spokesman Chris Falvey said the findings were “regrettable”.
“From time to time our visits will find that homes have put their residents at serious risk,” he said.
“It’s always very regrettable but the sanctions are designed to bring about a restoration in care for residents as soon as possible.”
Mr Falvey said each Australian nursing home would get at least one unannounced visit each year.
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