David Convery: Mercy Services, Singleton nurse assistant found to abuse, mock patients and sexually harass staff
An investigation into a Hunter Valley nursing assistant has found aged care residents were subjected to years of abuse, rough treatment and demeaning language.
Newcastle
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An investigation into a nursing assistant in the Hunter Valley has uncovered years of abuse, where elderly patients were subjected to demeaning and horrid treatment, shouted and cursed at, as they lay helpless.
In January 2019, the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) received a complaint from Mercy Services in Singleton about the conduct of one of their nursing assistants.
David Convery - who had been working at the aged care facility for five years - was alleged to have physically and verbally abused four patients, and had sexually harassed a number of his female work colleagues.
A third-party independent investigation was launched and found abuse by Mr Convery dated back to 2015.
It detailed how he treated patients poorly in-front of other staff members and was rough and abusive on several occasions which caused aged care residents to cry and fear him.
On numerous occasions he entered the bathrooms of patients while they were showering and urinated in their toilets and made comments which included “Don’t get a lady boner over me” and “you’ve got a lady boner”.
The investigation found he constantly used rude language, telling one patient to shut up when they prayed too loud, while telling another “you’re a pain in the arse tonight aren’t you” and “stop being a bitch” to another.
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He would also take away or move their assistance buzzer, telling them not to be a nuisance.
The investigation also detailed sexually explicit comments made to other staff members about patients masturbating over them and looking down female colleagues’ shirts and saying “That’s a handful for me, I wouldn’t mind if I got to see them”.
On several occasions he would also walk past female staff so his body would brush against theirs.
In August 2019 Mr Convery was also charged with two counts of common assault against a patient at the facility who has now passed away.
Court documents stated how he smacked the bottom of the complex care patient while saying “you love this”.
It detailed how the woman - who was just 52 - was shaking and extremely distraught.
He pleaded guilty to both offences and in February this year was sentenced to a two year community corrections order (CCO) and fined $2000 at Singleton Local Court.
Last month the HCCC determined Mr Convery breached a code of conduct and failed to provide a health service in a safe and ethical way.
The Commission was satisfied he posed a risk to the health and safety of members of the public and banned Mr Convery from providing any health services whether paid or voluntary in the future.
The Newcastle News contacted Mr Convery who made comment that despite being charged in court, he still says that he’s innocent.