Covid 19 coronavirus: Unauthorised celebration at aged care facility develops 'disastrous' infection
A decision by senior staff at a Melbourne assisted living home to host an unauthorised celebration at an aged-care centre now riddled with Covid-19 cases has actually been slammed by the facility’s CEO and families of locals.
News.com.au reported on July 29 that six staff members were stood down after it emerged that a baby shower had actually taken place at Epping Gardens in Melbourne’s north where, at the time, there had been no favorable coronavirus cases.
The party was found by a homeowner who buzzed for a nurse to attend and was dismayed when no one came.
Maureen O’Brien pulled herself out of bed to go and find assistance however was surprised to discover a celebration occurring.
“She had a hard time to get up on her frame and she went to the nurses station and requested for a Panadol,” her child Donna informed 4 Corners on Monday.
“She was told off quite badly … however my mum needed to know, ‘Why are all these people here. What’s going on?’ She believed it was a get-together.”
Within four days, the very first case of Covid-19 was found in the facility. A team member was infected therefore was a resident.
Within 6 days, the infection had spread to 60 homeowners and 22 staff, including all six who attended the baby shower.
Two of the staff members breached Covid-19 checks to get in to the facility on a night when they were not rostered to work.
There have been 20 deaths linked to the Covid-19 break out at the facility, however there are most likely to be more still.
Greg Reeve, CEO of Heritage Care, which manages the facility, stated: “It was arranged by one of the more senior registered nurses at the time.”
He called the party “beyond the pale”.
“It was unauthorised, breached protocols,” he said. “I can speak not only as CEO however as a signed up nurse. I think the lack of regard they have actually revealed is something that is beyond the pale.”
Asked by the ABC program whether the celebration was solely responsible for the outbreak at Epping Gardens, Reeve reacted: “We don’t know.”
Lawyer Tony Carbone is handling a class-action lawsuit on behalf of about 30 households affected by the outbreak at Epping Gardens.
He stated that as cases climbed, staff were either unable to work or did not wish to become infected themselves. It left a space in staffing numbers and residents supposedly suffered as an outcome.
“There were cases where individuals weren’t fed,” Carbone said. “Which is extraordinary when you think of it.”
Reeve rejected the claims that homeowners’ care requirements weren’t met.
“I don’t think they were ignored,” he stated.
A memo sent to loved ones of homeowners last month revealed staff were stood down for an “very serious breach” in the middle of a break out of coronavirus cases.
The memo, seen by news.com.au, described the celebration in unclear terms however said authorities had to be called.
“A little number of personnel selected to have a personal function at Epping Gardens,” the memo read.
“All employee included were stood down immediately when they looked out. It is important to state that we did not endorse this activity, nor were we mindful this was arranged.
“We consider this to be an extremely severe breach of (supervisor) Heritage Care’s expectations.
“We divulged this info to the Department … and authorities as quickly as we were notified.”
The memo likewise revealed that management “promoted for locals to be moved to medical facility” however “unfortunately this was opposed by the Department of Aged Care and Safety Commission”.
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