Blue Care Mackay Homefield responds to damning audit

A North Queensland aged care home will reopen as the company behind it responds to a damning report by the regulator which revealed residents were left in soiled clothing and at risk of repeated falls.

Blue Care Mackay Homefield failed six of the eight performance standards in relation to aged care quality in a performance audit by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Picture: Janessa Ekert

The company behind a Mackay aged care home says “no serious risks” have been identified despite a damning report by the regulator which revealed repeated falls, residents left in soiled clothing and untrained staff.

It now plans to reopen to new residents.

BlueCare Mackay Homefield had been deemed non-compliant across six of the eight standards of quality care stemming from an Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission audit in May, which was made publicly available by the regulator.

According to the report, some residents said they “experienced humiliation and embarrassment relating to their continence care”, and there was a lack of effective management around high impact or high prevalence risks related to falls with one resident falling 13 times over about two months.

The audit also found the centre was “unable to demonstrate effective monitoring of staff competency to ensure staff had the correct qualifications and knowledge to perform their roles”.

Staff also admitted there were delays in responding to residents because of a lack of workers, the report revealed.

A BlueCare spokeswoman confirmed the George St facility had “recently received 14 unmet criteria (of 42)” over six of eight standards”.

Blue Care Mackay Homefield failed six of the eight performance standards in relation to aged care quality in a performance audit by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Picture: Janessa Ekert

As the result of those unmet standards the facility was deemed non-compliant across those standards.

“Nil serious risks were identified, and the facility was reaccredited for a further two years and four months,” the spokeswoman said.

The West Mackay aged care home “maintains a 3-star rating”, she said.

“BlueCare Mackay Homefield is now fully staffed and is meeting the new 24/7 nursing requirement,” the spokeswoman said, adding the facility was “now reporting a significant uplift in staff training and reviews”.

The facility has also bolstered its management team.

There was also now an experienced interim BlueCare residential service manager onsite full-time, who was supported by an operations manager, while service improvements were made.

“Admissions had been paused, but are expected to be recommenced imminently,” the spokeswoman said.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents is our highest priority, and we will continue to implement actions to further improve resident care at BlueCare Mackay Homefield.”