Minda board president Susan Neuhaus seeking support amid sanctions turmoil

The president of the Minda board has called a special meeting to seek support for how the disability provider is responding to sanctions imposed on a nursing home it runs.

• Minda was hit with sanctions over a Brighton North nursing home
• … then new board member Mr Holst attempted to remove Dr Neuhaus
• … while it faces scrutiny in aged-care royal commission

The president of the Minda board has called a special meeting to seek support for how the disability provider is responding to sanctions imposed on a nursing home it runs.

Writing to Minda Association members this week, Susan Neuhaus referred to “some who prefer to lay blame” for problems uncovered at the organisation and lamented “negative” media coverage.

Susan Neuhaus

It follows revelations in The Advertiser that disability advocate and new board member David Holst is pushing to remove Dr Neuhaus, a surgeon and ex-army officer, following sanctions on the Brighton Minda Nursing Home.

Dr Neuhaus is seeking a vote of members, including relatives of people cared for by Minda staff, on February 24 to support actions the board has taken since the sanctions were imposed last month.

The federal Health Department found there was “an immediate and severe risk to the health, safety and wellbeing” of residents because of failings in specialist nursing care, pain management, nutrition and hydration, and behaviour management of residents.

Minda has been given six months to improve and will not receive federal funding for new clients in that time.

It has appointed an external administrator, developed new staff training and will spend $300,000 upgrading the home.

Mr Holst wrote to Minda members on Thursday, saying Dr Neuhaus’s comments were “a clear and direct reference to me”.

Dr Neuhaus has committed to step down mid-year but Mr Holst is calling for her immediate resignation. He is seeking a vote of members to request that she step aside.

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