Unexplained rashes send Kindred Living’s Annie Lockwood Court nursing home at Whyalla into lockdown

Part of a Whyalla nursing home that recently came under fire for a scabies “outbreak” has been sent into lockdown after residents developed unexplained rashes overnight.

The part of a Whyalla aged care facility that was at the centre of an alleged scabies outbreak has been sent into lockdown after residents developed unexplained rashes this week.

A message was sent to all staff on Thursday morning, saying Cottage Three at Kindred Living’s Annie Lockwood Court site was locked down.

“Cottage 3 is currently in lockdown due to two residents presenting with rashes,” the message said.

“Residents in Cottage 3 are to remain in isolation until test results have been received and treatment completed.”

All staff working at Cottage Three in the last seven days are unable to work in any other area of Annie Lockwood Court until test results are received.

Kindred Living chief executive Juanita Walker said on Thursday that two residents at Cottage Three developed a “very small rash overnight”.

“Their general practitioners have been notified and, until they attend and provide a confirmed diagnosis, the cottage has been put into locked down as a precautionary measure,” she said.

“No other residents or staff have presented with or reported a rash.”

A message was sent to all staff on Thursday morning, saying Cottage Three at Kindred Living’s Annie Lockwood Court site was locked down. File picture

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said she was aware of the recent rashes.

“The Commission has since been in contact with the approved provider Whyalla Aged Care Inc. which operates under the trading name Kindred Living,” she said.

“The Commission is continuing to closely monitor the quality and safety of care at the service through monitoring and assessment activities to ensure quality of care standards are being met.”

Authorities are still preparing an assessment report into Kindred Living after there were reports of a major scabies outbreak last month.

Whistleblowers said eight residents at Cottage Three, which houses mostly people living with dementia, caught Norwegian scabies.

Ms Walker, however, said only one resident was confirmed to have the skin infestation, while other residents have “chronic skin conditions that resembled scabies in appearance”.

Commission investigators spent several days assessing the site and are expected to publish their findings online once it is finalised.

Ms Walker told The Advertiser last week the facility was found non-compliant in three care outcomes.

“The Commission found three areas of noncompliance in the more than 50 care outcomes,” she said at the time.

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