Coronavirus: Aged care watchdog puts Newmarch House on notice
The western Sydney nursing home suffering an outbreak of COVID-19 — leading to 16 deaths — will appoint an independent advisor after it was put on notice by the aged care watchdog. Newmarch House is also in danger of losing its licence as two more staff members tested positive to the virus.
NSW
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The western Sydney nursing home plagued by an outbreak of COVID-19 today vowed to appoint an independent advisor for three months after it was put on notice by the aged care watchdog.
Two new cases among staff at Newmarch House were confirmed on Thursday, with managers maintaining support of a new adviser and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will swiftly resolve issues at the Caddens facility where 16 residents have died in less than a month.
Managers Anglicare Sydney released a statement promising to comply to the watchdog’s requests to appoint an advisor by 5pm on Thursday, not take in new residents and ensure direction and advice is immediately followed.
“Residents and families can be assured that this will mean we will have additional expertise to support us during this extremely difficult time,” an Anglicare spokesman said.
“The impact of the COVID-19 on Newmarch House has been unprecedented for residents, families and staff.
“All our energy and focus is dedicated to containing the spread and the impact of this devastating virus.”
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The commission intervened on Wednesday “due to the seriousness of the outbreak of COVID-19” at the facility, located near Penrith.
Relatives of loved ones remained doubtful much would change.
“I still want my mum out of there, she has dementia but somehow knows something is wrong, she told me last week ‘I know I will go to a better place than here when I die’”, said Liz Lane, 50, whose mother Rose Davies, 84, is in palliative care.
The aged care watchdog ordered managers to appoint an independent advisor to step into the home within 24 hours – or risk having its licence revoked.
The powerful commission said they were making the orders because of the “provider’s response to the outbreak and lack of suitable processes and systems in order to control transmission of the virus” and the complaints they had received about the safety and quality of care at the home.
The complaints were lodged between April 15 and 30.
“The Commission has identified that there is an immediate and severe risk to the health,
safety and wellbeing of care recipients at the Service,” the notice reads.
The Commission has “serious concerns” in regards to the home’s compliance with multiple conditions including that each person is being treated with dignity and respect and that infection-related risks are being minimised.
“The Commission is acutely aware that aged care consumers are among those who are most vulnerable to the virus and the risks it presents to people’s health and life,” 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 (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.
“This is a tragic situation, and the anxiety and grief experienced by residents, their family members and staff has had an impact on all Australians.”
As from April 23, the commission has taken regulatory actions to prevent the home from failing to meet Quality Standards, including issuing an administrative direction and a noncompliance notice.
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.”
Anglicare Sydney CEO Grant Millard said the situation at the home has “substantially improve”.
“We will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders as we work through the continuing challenges in the coming weeks.”
Son of Newmarch House COVID-19 positive resident Patricia Shea, Anthony Bowe said: “It’s about time someone was sitting looking over Anglicare’s shoulder, they’re accountable now.
“They’ve been appalling in the way they’ve managed the outbreak and then its communication to relatives.
“Let’s hope this finally gives them the kick they need to get their act together.
“As soon as I can get my mum out of that I will.”
On Wednesday, families of the residents called for their loved ones who do not have COVID-19 to be moved to hotels rooms which NSW Health said was allowed but protocols had be followed and it had to be the resident’s decision.
Meanwhile, Newmarch House is about to lose the specialist team brought in to help manage the aged care home during the coronavirus crisis that has killed 16 residents.
The three-member team were senior managers from BaptistCare who were put in charge of the day-to-day running of the Anglicare facility.
The trio had previously assisted with managing a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in BaptistCare’s Dorothy Henderson Lodge at Macquarie Park.
In a statement, federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck revealed the team would leave Newmarch “unfortunately for their own wellbeing”.
It’s understood another experienced team will go into the Kingswood home, although details weren’t available on Wednesday evening.