Caleb Bond: Oakden nursing home scandal should evoke anger and horror in any fair-minded individual
IT has become an all-too-familiar story. Our most vulnerable abused and action is only taken far too late, writes Caleb Bond.
- Mental Heath Minister faces new call to resign
- Ermanno Serpo’s family tell of mistreatment
- Oakden nursing home to be closed
- Colin James: Who’s to blame over Oakden scandal?
IT has become an all-too-familiar story. A State Government department learns of a problem, the department ignores it, the proverbial hits the fan and the department totally bungles the fallout.
Here we are again, this time with the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health facility. Our most vulnerable abused. And action is only taken far too late.
The allegations of barbaric assault and neglect that have risen since last week ought to evoke anger and horror in any fair-minded individual.
The front page of this newspaper yesterday detailed the story of Ermanno Serpo, whose family say was dragged by the throat and so doped-up he couldn’t open his eyes or walk during his time at Oakden. They saw human faeces in the courtyard and urine in the hallways.
“Oh yes, we know it’s been there for a while,” the staff would reportedly tell Mr Serpo’s daughter. It’s disgusting. Vile. Inhuman.
The now much-publicised report that triggered the government to last week announce the facility’s closure is a scathing indictment on the system.
Residents kept on the floor, their genitalia aggressively washed – when they weren’t left to wallow in their own filth.
They were mocked and verbally abused, overdosed on medication and, in one reported case, “stomped” on by a senior nurse.
We should all be outraged.
Mental Health Minister Lisa Vlahos said she was “revolted” by the revelations, but that is about as far as the sympathy from the government has gone.
Ms Vlahos was aware of issues at Oakden in 2015. When concerns were raised about low staffing numbers she dismissed them, insisting “the staffing levels are higher at Clements House than at other aged care services”.
A review was conducted on Oakden in 2008 and it was sanctioned by the Federal Government.
Former mental health minister Jack Snelling was made aware of concerns in 2013.
Alarm bells should have been ringing.
But the government’s negligence meant the facility remained open and mentally ill older people were abused.
Given it took this long for much-needed action, one would think the government and Ms Vlahos would be on the front foot, doing everything they can to apologise.
Wrong. Ms Vlahos has, staggeringly, not spoken to Premier Jay Weatherill since the report was released. He’s on holiday, you see.
“I am unaware of what the Premier has read recently,” Ms Vlahos said on Sunday.
“I do not control his black box every night”.
What an arrogant, rude and contemptuous response. Heads should roll.
Ms Vlahos received the report a fortnight ago on Monday, April 10 – a week before Mr Weatherill went on leave. She had ample time to speak to her leader – or at least she would have if she hadn’t waited four days to read the report.
Mr Weatherill must take action immediately. If he thinks his holiday is more important than picking up the pieces of this mess, then he has another thing coming.
We’ve been here before. This government has been marred by disgrace after disgrace, our most vulnerable people slipping through the cracks to be horrifically abused and mistreated.
There’s the chemotherapy underdosing bungle. Or the mammoth Families SA debacle that resulted in countless children being put in the hands of sexual abusers, the death of Chloe Valentine, ministers falling on their swords and a Royal Commission.
Then, just as in this case, the government failed to adequately address public concern.
Fifteen years in power and they still haven’t worked it out.
South Australians just want justice. They want to know that we, as a compassionate and just society, step in to help those who cannot help themselves. They want them to be safe.
And when awful cases like Oakden come to light, they want their government to be strong. Alas, the poor residents of Oakden were let down, and now the rest of us with them.
This will be the government’s legacy. It ought to be their Don Dale moment.