Newmarch House gets crisis manager as 3 more staffers test positive
Newmarch House has appointed an independent adviser following a threat from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission that the virus-plagued facility could lose its licence.
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- Aged-care watchdog puts Newmarch House on notice
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Newmarch House has appointed an independent adviser to see it through the COVID-19 crisis, following a threat from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission that the virus-plagued facility could lose its licence.
It comes as three staff members tested positive in 24 hours at the Western Sydney facility.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission intervened on Thursday “due to the seriousness of the outbreak of COVID-19” at the home in Caddens, near Penrith, ordering an independent adviser to oversee the home where 16 residents have died.
Aged care expert Andrew Kinkade, who has a track record in managing complex situations, has been brought in.
“Andrew Kinkade has extensive experience in aged care in Australia and the UK and has been contributing to sector-wide preparations and responses to COVID-19,” Anglicare Sydney CEO Grant Millard said.
Mr Kinkade is a chartered accountant and solicitor, is a general manager for Catholic Healthcare and was previously a manager at NSW National Home Doctor Service.
He began his career in investment banking and strategy consulting and has worked with Bain & Company, Macquarie Group and PriceWaterhouseCooper.
“He has a track record of managing complex situations and delivering high quality care.
“We are very pleased to have Andrew as an adviser at this extremely difficult time,” Mr Millard. “His skills and advice are appreciated.”
However relatives of loved ones in the facility were doubtful much would change and said the decision was “well overdue”.
“I’ve just seen my mum in a half-hour visit through a fence, she wants to come out,” said Liz Lane, whose mother Rose Davies, 84, is in palliative care.
“For someone with dementia she seems to know there is something deeply wrong at the home.
“She’s miserable, she’s hardly eating, she’s being difficult for the staff, she’s still herself.
“She just wants to get out.
“The commission should have stepped in two weeks ago. Their decision is well overdue.”
Anglicare issued a statement on Thursday saying three staff members had tested positive in the past 24 hours.
Three Newmarch House residents are being cared for at Nepean Hospital, and more relatives are asking Anglicare clinicians to remove their loved ones from the facility.
The commission yesterday ruled Newmarch House managers breached standards, and ordered a stop to admitting new residents.
Commissioner Janet Anderson said: “We are using the full range of our regulatory powers to ensure that providers meet their obligations with respect to the Aged Care Quality Standards, and to implement all necessary steps to mitigate the risks of transmission of the virus.
“The COVID-19 outbreak at Newmarch House in Western Sydney during this pandemic has been one of the most devastating in Australia, with 16 residents having lost their lives to the virus.”
Commission officers found a lack of effective infection control that posed an immediate and severe risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of residents at Newmarch House.
A commission spokeswoman said: “Should the provider fail to agree, their approval to provide Australian government subsidised aged care may be revoked.
“Once a provider has agreed to an NTA, they are required to do the actions they’ve agreed to. If they don’t they may be sanctioned.”