Sanctions: Australian Government Acts - Northern Sydney Aged Care

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17 March 2009

Last night (March 16), the Australian Government imposed sanctions on Bethany Hostel and Bethany Nursing Home in Eastwood in Sydney’s north – the first sanction in NSW since last October.

The Department of Health and Ageing imposed sanctions after the aged care homes had failed to meet a strict timetable for improvement.

The aged care provider was required to address non-compliance problems – but failed to do so. This prompted a comprehensive review audit on February 10-17.

The independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency found continuing non-compliance and further new non-compliance at both facilities – triggering the formal sanctions.

Originally, the aged care homes came to the attention of the Australian Government on an unannounced visit.

The Department of Health and Ageing has advised that the aged care provider had been “given ample warning and opportunity to address the non-compliance at these facilities and failed to do so”.

The Accreditation Agency found that there was non-compliance in:

• Inadequate number of skilled and qualified staff to meet the residents’ care needs;
• Failure to review and update care plans for clinical care for residents;
• Failure to review and update behavioural management plans;
• Inadequate systems to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement in health and personal care and resident lifestyle; and
• Inadequate systems and processes in place to identify relevant laws, standards and guidelines as well as ineffective information management systems in place.

Given that the aged care homes continue to have problems related to their clinical management systems, the Australian Government has required the operator to appoint an adviser with nursing and managerial experience.

The adviser must be approved by the Department of Health and Ageing and have the appropriate skills, qualifications and background to assist the home to comply with their responsibilities. The adviser is to be appointed for six months.

The Accreditation Agency and the Department of Health and Ageing will continue to monitor closely the nursing home and hostel.

Nationally, there are 11 nursing homes under sanction out of a possible 2,830 aged care homes.

The official sanction was issued and served on St Catherine’s Aged Care Services Ltd.

Bethany Nursing Home is a 50-bed high care facility and Bethany Hostel is a 41 bed low care facility.

In the 2007-2008 financial year, they received a combined $2.9 million in Australian Government funding.

The Bethany Nursing Home and Bethany Hostel will soon organise a family/residents’ meeting to inform them of the situation at the facility.

“Putting a nursing home under sanction is a major step and the approved providers of the Bethany nursing home and hostel did not meet a strict timetable for improvement,” 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. In addition, the average amount a resident contributes is $20,000 a year. (However, the Federal Government pays for those who are unable to do so).

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

 

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