Mosman: Montana Nursing Home fails performance, COVID-19 risk standards

A north shore nursing home has been found non-compliant with quality standards including minimising the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks.

The home was found non-complaint with quality standards.

A north shore nursing home has issued a response to Australia’s aged care watchdog after being found to be non-compliant with quality standards including minimising the risk of outbreaks of health infections such as COVID-19.

A performance assessment published by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission last week has found Montana Nursing Home in Mosman was non-compliant with aged care quality standards including personal/clinical care and organisational governance during an assessment of the facility in September this year.

In its response to the findings, Montana said it “acknowledged some aspects” of the performance report but “refuted a majority” of the findings.

The assessment found the 64-bed facility had insufficient measures to minimise infection-related risks, a lack of outbreak preparedness and that the living environment did not support infection control management.

The commission said staff and management were unable to demonstrate an understanding of their individual responsibilities in relation to minimisation of infections risks and “inconsistencies” with COVID-19 checklists that require facilities to have outbreak management plans, personal protective equipment and measures for infection control.

The facility was among 42 aged care facilities in Australia to have been found non-complaint with aged care quality standards in the latest monthly reports. Photo: Stock photo.

The commission said the facility was also non-compliant with standards of organisational government for not having a clinical governance framework for open disclosure, minimising the use of restraint, and antimicrobial stewardship.

Montana’s response stated staff have carried out actions since September including reviewing and updated processes, providing education to staff and detailed care plans.

The commission said it “was not convinced this knowledge has been developed and evident throughout the clinical team” and outlined four areas of improvement the facility could make to meet quality standards.

The measures including ensuring staff are trained for infection control, preparing for outbreaks involving COVID-19 and ensuring protocols are in line with national health guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19.

Management and staff should also understand their responsibilities in compulsory reporting, including maintaining a register of all incidents of suspected or alleged assaults and “wandering behaviours”, the commission said.

The Mosman Daily contacted the facility for additional comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

The nursing home was among 42 aged care facilities in Australia to have been found non-compliant with aged care quality standards in monthly reports published last week.

The commission checks facilities against eight quality standards including consumer dignity and choice, ongoing assessment and planning with consumers, personal care/clinical care, services and supports for daily living, organisation’s service environment, feedback and complaints, human resources and organisational governance.

The standards are designed to make it easier to check that residents of aged care facilities receive “good care” and outline what “a good aged care should look like”, the commission said.