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PDF printable version of Australian Government Acts On Werribee Nursing Home (PDF 26 KB)

9 March 2009

Last night (March 8), the Australian Government imposed sanctions on Werribee Terrace Aged Care in Werribee, Victoria – citing serious concerns with wound management, infection control, weight loss and general clinical care of the residents.

The Department of Health and Ageing would consider the need for further action once it receives the full review audit from the independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (the Accreditation Agency) later this week.

In addition, the Department of Health and Ageing will also refer issues of concern to the Nurses Board of Victoria and Victorian Police.

The Accreditation Agency identified serious risk to the health, safety and well being of residents, relating to skin care, wound management, clinical care, infection control, hydration and nutrition and specialised nursing care needs.

The nursing home was identified as a result of an unannounced visit by Department of Health and Ageing officers from the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme following a serious complaint about wound management and other clinical issues.

The official sanction was issued and served on March 8 to Calvert Manor Pty Ltd. (It does not operate any other aged care facilities.)

Werribee Terrace Aged Care has 65 high care residents with 11 residents over the age of 90.

At Werribee Terrace Aged Care, the Accreditation Agency had concerns about:

• Extremely poor wound management with most of the wounds originating as a result of inadequate pressure area care;
• Poor infection control practices with staff unaware of how to protect residents and themselves;
• Inadequate management of resident’s pain, including medication; and
• Residents’ nutrition and hydration needs were not assessed, evaluated and managed

As part of the Australian Government’s response, a range of tough measures have been put in place including:

• The appointment of an experienced nursing adviser approved by the Commonwealth to assist the home with clinical compliance and responsibilities for a period of six months;
• The provision of appropriate training for staff in areas that have given rise to the serious risk;
• Accreditation Agency assessors who will be on-site daily until the serious risk is mitigated;
• Department of Health and Ageing staff who will monitor the aged care home closely; and
• A restriction on eligibility for Australian Government subsidies for any new residents admitted during the period of the sanctions for a period of 6 months.

In the 2007-2008 financial year, Werribee Terrace Aged Care received $3.52 million in Australian Government funding.

There are now five Victorian nursing homes under sanction out of 785. Nationally, there are 10 nursing homes under sanction out of a possible 2,830 aged care homes.

Werribee Terrace Aged Care will soon organise a family/residents’ meeting to inform them of the situation at the facility.

“We make no apologies for placing a nursing home under sanction,” the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said.

“This is about the protection and the welfare of frail and aged Australians and we will act when it is necessary.

“The Rudd Labor Government is committed to improving the care and quality of Australia’s nursing homes and its residents – after 12 years of neglect by the previous government,” Mrs Elliot said.

Over the next four years, funding for aged and community care would reach record levels of more than $41.6 billion -- with $29.5 billion of that on residential aged care alone.

Over the next four years, the Australian Government would be providing an average of $43,000 for every aged care home resident.

This Government is committed to continuing to work in partnership with older Australians, their families, staff, unions and providers to improve the quality of aged care in Australia.

Anyone with concerns about the care or welfare of residents should immediately contact the Department of Health and Ageing’s Complaints Investigation Scheme on 1 800 550 552.

For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280