Bupa Seaforth loses three managers and GP, as relative calls for the failing home to hand over keys
A floundering Sydney Bupa aged care home, which was found to have placed the safety, health and wellbeing of patients at serious risk, has lost three more senior staff.
Manly
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A failing care home has seen another general manager leave — believed to be the sixth in two and half years.
Along with outgoing general manager Bradley Brown, Clinical Care Manager Ye ‘Shan’ Liow has also resigned, according to a letter sent to relatives this week, and the other Clinical Care Manager Joseph Mbugua has taken leave to visit family in Kenya.
In addition the home’s regular GP has left.
One relative of a patient at the care home said she was furious with the continual turnaround of new general managers and the loss of Mr Mbugua, who was very efficient.
She said it was time for Bupa to pass on the “keys to a competent administration”.
The carer, who did not want to be named to protect her relative, said: “I am so incensed.
We are losing our general manager and very efficient clinical manager. We have been steadily losing trained staff at an alarming rate.
“Nobody ever gives a good reason just the usual defensive Bupa spiel and bullsh**t.
“Every time they fail accreditation, they get rid of whichever general manager they have appointed.
“I make this the sixth general manager.
“I and many others have absolutely had it with the Bupa administration.
“It is time for Bupa to pass on the keys to a competent administration.”
Bupa Seaforth, which opened in 2016, is set to lose its accreditation next month after inspectors found it had placed the safety, health and wellbeing of patients at serious risk.
It’s already under sanctions which means no new patients can be accepted until standards improve.
Mr Brown’s replacement is Tecla Mururi, and according to a Bupa spokesman she comes with “a wealth of experience and is a registered nurse”.
The relative of a resident said Mr Brown who joined Bupa on a graduate scheme five years ago, did not seem to have much management experience, but wasn’t there long enough to make a difference.
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“While we had had some good ones (managers) when they try to change something or better it or be proactive they are moved on,” the relative said.
“Whenever the home is sanctioned once again, a week or two afterwards that person is gone.”
Bupa has gave relatives 24 hours notice of a meeting this afternoon.
In the last audit in May the home inspectors found reportable assaults were occurring, including allegations of rough handling of patients and patient to patient physical assault. They also said staff did not have the appropriate knowledge and skills to perform their roles effectively.
And, they found medication was not being managed safely and correctly and all patients were not as free as possible from pain.
A Bupa spokesman said there had been a smooth transition between the old and new general and clinical managers.
“Bupa has appointed a new general manager to run our Seaforth home,” the spokesman said.
“She comes with a wealth of experience and is a registered nurse.
“We have also hired a new clinical care manager who is also a registered nurse with a focus in dementia care.
“There has been an extensive transition period between the new general manager and outgoing manager, who departs after five years with Bupa.
“This transition plan has been in place for some weeks to ensure a smooth transition.
“The outgoing manager has made an invaluable contribution to our Seaforth home for which we are grateful.”
The spokesman also said it had secured the services of a GP who will take on the patients of the outgoing GP on Thursday afternoons from 1pm to 6pm.
In addition, residents also have access to two geriatricians who are on site at the home on Monday mornings.
“Every resident has choice in their GP,” the spokesman said.
“Each Bupa aged care home endeavours to have a relationship with a local GP practice for the benefit of our residents and their continuity of care.
“It is a common challenge in aged care to attract GPs to visit residents.”