Multiple investigations at Adelaide Hills aged care home Bene St Pauls at Hahndorf over vanishing opioid drugs

A leading aged care home is at the centre of multiple investigations after opioid drugs mysteriously vanished.

Bene Aged Care home St Pauls in Hahndorf

A leading Adelaide Hills aged care home is at the centre of multiple investigations after opioid drugs mysteriously vanished.

Bosses at Bene St Pauls residential facility, at Hahndorf, were last month forced to call in state and federal authorities after 100ml OxyNorm liquid medication disappeared.

Police, SA Health’s drugs of dependence unit and medicine watchdog the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, launched investigations amid fears the painkillers were stolen.

While the medication, which is also known as Oxycodone, is unaccounted for, investigations into how the drugs went missing are so far “inconclusive”.

Authorities have been left baffled how or when the drugs, which are used to treat “severe” pain similar to morphine but can be highly addictive, vanished.

Police investigations found no evidence of theft, a care spokeswoman said.

While staff have been interviewed, there are no security cameras around the secure “drug room”.

The centre, which has 80 residents, has been forced to review its operations and beef-up security, the spokeswoman said.

The medicine “discrepancy” emerged during a routine audit on December 2.

State and federal law requires all homes to notify authorities of breaches involving strictly regulated “schedule 8” drugs.

Experts say these “drugs of dependence” have a recognised therapeutic need but also have higher risk of misuse, abuse and dependence.

Authorities say strict rules on prescription, supply and administration of such medicines are due to “potentially serious implications for individual wellbeing, public safety and quality of care”.

Healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, medical practitioners and nurses are strictly monitored.

In response to inquiries, a Bene spokeswoman said “investigations have been inconclusive”.

“In December, while conducting a routine check, (we) became aware that a small quantity of liquid medication used to help relieve severe pain was unaccounted for,” she said.

“In accordance with regulations, Bene immediately reported the missing medication to relevant authorities including SA Health, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the South Australian Police.

“Investigations undertaken by SA Police found no evidence of theft.

“While fully compliant with the regulatory requirements for the storage of medications, we have taken the opportunity to further review and reinforce our practices.”

She declined to say if residents, or their families, had been told.

An SA Police spokeswoman said the force was “made aware of a discrepancy with an audit of medication at a Hahndorf aged care facility” but had no further comment.

Acting chief public health officer, Dr Chris Lease, said agency officials were told via its licencing requirements.

“The home followed the appropriate process in notifying SA Health and SA Police,” he said.

“At this stage there is no further action from SA Health.”

An AHPRA spokesman said: “We cannot discuss matters relating to specific practitioners or ongoing investigations, beyond what is already on the public record.”

An Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission spokesman also declined to comment on specific cases.

He added: “Providers are also expected to have in place appropriate medication management systems and processes.

“Where we find that a provider isn’t meeting their obligations, we will take action to hold them to account.”

The Italian Benevolent Foundation-operated home offers residential, dementia, palliative and respite care.