Earle Haven: Government knew of trouble at nursing home months before abrupt closure

Federal government staff knew there was trouble at the Earle Haven nursing wing long before residents were evacuated, it is alleged. But there is a ridiculous reason nothing was done.

FEDERAL Government staff knew of trouble at the Earle Haven nursing wing at least three months before 71 elderly residents were kicked out of home, it is alleged.

However, it was never passed on because the complaints and compliance branch of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) operates on a “separate IT system”.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was told yesterday that federal staff attended a meeting at Earle Haven on May 30 where tension between owner PeopleCare and contractor HelpStreet was “openly discussed”.

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The nursing home is under scrutiny at the Royal Commission. Picture: Adam Heade

During the meeting PeopleCare director Arthur Miller, who owns Earle Haven, said he had not been told about complaints surrounding HelpStreet.

The subsequent report from ACQSC employees did not reach the quality and monitoring arm because software within the agency was not aligned.

Tracey Rees, the regional director at ACQSC, told the Royal Commission yesterday: “We are located separately and we are working towards a better coordination and a better sharing of information, so yeah we are working towards that.”

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The Royal Commission was told yesterday that PeopleCare wrote to HelpStreet on July 8 telling it that its contract would be terminated on August 9.

HelpStreet subsequently removed all furniture and equipment from the nursing home two days later, and told staff they would not be paid. Seventy-one frail residents have not been able to return home since.

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Barbara Healey, a family member of affected residents, after an Earle Haven meeting last month. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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The Royal Commission was also told that ACQSC complaints staff attended Earle Haven on April 4. The meeting revealed that HelpStreet was not renewing a contract with PeopleCare for domestic catering and laundry services.

In 2016, similar circumstances arose when a nursing adviser brought in to work with Earle Haven complained of a relationship breakdown.

“In all the circumstances, shouldn’t the commission in 2019 have been very sensitive to those kind of changes in contractual relationship given the track record of PeopleCare?” Senior Counsel Assisting Peter Grey, QC, asked.

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Arthur Miller, owner of aged care provider PeopleCare which owns the Earle Haven nursing home, is seen leaving the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety at the Commonwealth Law Courts in Brisbane, Monday, August 5, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Ms Rees responded: “We probably should have been more aware of it, yes.”

The hearing was also told authorities knew of a trial contract between HelpStreet and PeopleCare in 2018, but did not follow up for further details.

Anthony David Speed, the assistant secretary of aged care compliance at the Commonwealth Department of Health, also told the Royal Commission yesterday there was no standard of checking ASIC registers against key personnel and contractors.

“The changes of 2016 have reduced the department’s attention on key personnel — it may occur on a case-by-case basis,” Mr Speed said.

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It was earlier revealed global CEO of HelpStreet Kristofer Bunker had been disqualified from managing a company by ASIC in 2018.

He was not listed as a director of the HelpStreet group.

Geoffrey Sweet, one of the 71 residents kicked out of his home four weeks ago, told the Bulletin yesterday that he was perplexed that he had still not been allowed to return to Earle Haven, or given any indication of the government’s plans.

Mr Sweet said Richard Colbeck, the Minister for Aged Care, had no answers when he met with him last week.

“The $64,000 question is are these damned inquires going to do anything?” Mr Sweet said yesterday.

“What fowls me is the fact I had the minister himself sit opposite me here and talk for half an hour.

“He is the top dog in aged care and he couldn’t tell me how the hell he was going to get things changed.”

Mr Sweet said a majority of former Earle Haven nursing home residents who were moved out of the facility have given up on returning and moved elsewhere.