HelpStreet Village executive Kris Bunker says his company not to blame for Earle Haven scandal

The CEO of a contractor embroiled in the Earle Haven scandal has given an emotional account of what he believes led to ‘heartbreaking’ scenes at the Nerang nursing home.

A TEARFUL HelpStreet Village executive has faced the media for the first time since 70 residents were removed from the Earle Haven nursing home in Nerang last week.

CEO Kris Bunker claimed it was not the company’s decision to abandon the premises and that staff were not told to take patients’ medication.

Mr Bunker also said money taken from residents the week of the mass exodus will be returned.

“We have been informed today by our banking partner that all of the money is in the process of being refunded to residents,” he said.

Helpstreet CEO Kris Bunker addressing media at a press conference today. Picture: Jerad Williams.

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Mr Bunker, who spoke from a written statement, said he was devastated and it was never the contractor’s intention to leave the premises.

“The decision to leave was not taken by us, it was out of our hands,” he said. “As a result we saw those heartbreaking scenes last week.”

Mr Bunker described the situation as unprecedented and “very complicated”.

“In the seven years since I founded HelpStreet I have never seen what I saw last Thursday and it was heartbreaking,” he said.

Mr Bunker said the scenes at Earle Haven last week were “heartbreaking”. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

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He said staff had not been told to take medication of residents, despite Queensland health staff finding ransacked cupboard throughout the facility.

“Like you I have serious questions about the medication,” he said.

“We know (the home’s owner) People Care have security cameras at Earle Haven, we call on People Care to release the video footage – it will show exactly what happened.

“In relation to the medical records, People Care did not remove people’s medical records from the facility, as part of a process of improving quality of care for residents HelpStreet created electronic versions of HelpStreet records.

“Those records are safe, secure and available”.

Helpstreet CEO Kris Bunker addressing the media today. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Mr Bunker again pointed the finger at the home’s owner People Care, who are the approved age care provider.

“It is our view serious questions need to be asked about People Care and its business practices,” he said.

“People Care is a company that has been sanctioned by the federal government twice in recent years – long before our involvement.

“We have done everything in our power to improve the quality of care for our residents.”