Disability provider Integrity Care sacks Adelaide carer being investigated over death of cerebral palsy sufferer Ann Marie Smith
The carer assigned to cerebral palsy sufferer Ann Marie Smith – whose death has been declared a major crime – has been sacked, and the provider responsible for her care identified.
SA News
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A private disability provider at the centre of a manslaughter investigation into the death of one of its clients has sacked the carer responsible for looking after the woman.
Edwardstown-based Integrity Care SA confirmed it had sacked a female employee after cerebral palsy sufferer Ann Marie Smith, 54, died last month from serious medical conditions.
The company said it had launched an investigation into Ms Smith’s care when she was admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital on April 5 suffering from septic shock, severe pressure sores, multiple organ failure and malnutrition.
Paramedics had been called after Ms Smith was found inside her Kensington Park home by another carer living in what police described as “disgusting and degrading circumstances”.
Her death has been declared a Major Crime, with police investigating how she had been unable to move from a woven cane chair in her loungeroom for over a year, with no access to a toilet or fridge containing food.
In a statement, Integrity Care — which was officially sanctioned last Friday over breaches of the NDIS scheme — said it was “determined to find out what went terribly wrong”.
“Like everyone in the community, we were shocked and appalled to hear about the death of Ann-Marie Smith,” it said.
“Patient care is at the heart of everything we do.”
Integrity Care said it since had performed welfare checks on all clients under the care of the employee with responsibility for Ms Smith, who had been looking after her for six years.
“All those individuals are in good health,” it said.
“Second, we have also appointed an independent expert to review every NDIS participant in our care, including those participants looked after by Ms Smith’s carer.
“Third, we interviewed Ms Smith’s carer as part of that investigation and suspended her pending notification on the cause of Ms Smith’s death.”
Integrity Care said police had contacted them last Friday about the cause of Ms Smith’s death the day after she was admitted to the RAH.
“Since then we have terminated the employment of Ms Smith’s carer due to her serious and wilful misconduct,” it said.
“We trusted our carer and believe that we have been completely misled by her.”
Integrity Care SA said it extended its “heartfelt sympathy” to Ms Smith’s family.
“We encourage anyone with relevant information or concerns to contact CrimeStoppers or the NDIS,” it said.
Integrity Care’s statement comes 48 hours after it was issued with a compliance order by the federal watchdog responsible for the national disability scheme.
The company — which employs around 100 full-time and casual carers — is based in a serviced office block on South Rd, Edwardstown.
Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said Ms Smith’s death was “a mammoth tragedy”.
Ms Cook said the official investigation into Integrity Care had to examine every disabled person under their care.
“It’s appalling to think of the suffering that Ann Marie Smith went through,” she said.
“The investigation of Integrity Care must be thorough, independent, and swift.
“The State Government must step in and provide a guarantee that all people under the care of the agency are safe immediately.”
Ms Cook said the NDIS was established “to provide co-ordinated and well-funded care packages that can pass every test thrown at them”.
“Where was the full range of services in Ann Marie’s case?” she said.
“Where was the therapy, the social structure, the support and the oversight needed given the enormous investment in terms of money and trust that we place in the system?”
Ms Cook said Ms Smith’s death was “a huge systemic failure that needs immediate intervention”.
“The State Government is well placed to make immediate change by reversing the cuts to the Community Visitor Scheme that it made last year and enable it to visit all sites where both government and private service delivery occurs,” she said.
Premier Steven Marshall said on Saturday that state-based audits and more oversight of disability services could be introduced in the wake of Ms Smith’s “sickening death”.