Bethania’s Jeta Gardens aged care home under investigation after 10 Covid deaths

A south-east Queensland nursing home is under investigation after recording 10 deaths and the highest number of Covid infections of any aged care facility in the state.

A southside nursing home is under investigation after recording 10 deaths and the highest number of Covid infections of any aged care facility in Queensland.

A federal Health Department report into Covid and the Omicron outbreak said the Jeta Gardens aged care facility at Bethania had recorded 94 residents and 80 staff with the virus.

Ten deaths have been recorded at the facility over the past month, with the latest fatality on Thursday afternoon.

More than 110 aged care residents in Queensland have died from the virus, which has killed 225 Queenslanders.

Jeta Gardens, known for its lush Asian-style gardens, was issued with a noncompliance order in October after it was found to need “significant improvements” during an assessment in August.

Jeta Gardens at Bethania is under investigation after 10 Covid deaths.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) assessment also found there were issues with response times to calls from residents for assistance and the facility’s plans to manage any virus outbreak were not comprehensive.

The damning ACQSC report said the facility did not have appropriate processes in place if a Covid outbreak occurred.

The commission said it would consider further regulatory action if Jeta Gardens did not move to rectify the situation and put in place better planning processes.

“It does not appear that the number or mix of staff is appropriate to ensure that safe and quality care is consistently delivered to consumers.”

Future action could include removing Jeta Garden’s accreditation or its provider status.

Jeta Gardens told ACQSC it had updated its processes but was unavailable for comment when contacted by The Courier-Mail.

An excerpt from the federal government's Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission report into Jeta Gardens tabled in November.

The federal Health Department said a booster clinic was brought forward and held at Jeta Gardens on Monday.

“(That was) in line with the decrease in time necessary between completing two doses of COVID-19 vaccination and receiving a booster dose.”

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, whose electorate covers Bethania, said she was shocked and saddened by the situation at Jeta Gardens.

“We have been hearing for months that the federal government has not organised enough vaccination boosters and ensured the safety of residents in aged care,” Ms Fentiman said.

“I have spoken to the federal member about this worrying issue and anyone with concerns about loved ones who are residents or staff at Jeta Gardens should contact my office for assistance.”

Labor candidate for Forde Rowan Holzberger said the rollout of the booster program to the aged care facility had failed.

“The government has had months to plan a booster rollout in aged care – they have failed,” he said.

“The government promised aged care residents they would receive their boosters by the end of January – that has not happened at Bethania.

“We don’t need another task force, we need this mess fixed.”