Jeta Gardens denies mask supply crisis and text telling staff to skimp on face shields

Management at an embattled south-east Queensland nursing home has responded after shocking mask text messages were revealed amid a deadly Covid outbreak. WATCH THE VIDEO

An embattled southside nursing home at the centre of the state’s deadliest aged care Covid outbreak has denied telling staff to skimp on protective masks, despite staff claims stocks had run out.

Staff at Jeta Gardens at Bethania, where 15 residents have died of Covid-19, said they received a text message on Sunday afternoon telling them to skimp on protective masks as supplies at the centre were running low.

Management at an embattled southside nursing home have denied telling staff to skimp on protective masks after shocking text messages were revealed.

The text also told staff to save face shields or only throw them away after four hours and not to change protective masks often.

Staff at the facility said supplies of the highly protective n95 masks and P2 masks ran out on Tuesday morning.

“Unfortunately, we are running out of stock,” the text said.

“P2/n95 masks: We are running really low as of at the moment. Please change only if you need to.”

But Jeta Gardens said the claims were false and no instruction was sent to staff on Sunday requesting they use masks sparingly.

“We have plentiful stock of N95 masks which are available for staff on all shifts,” a Jeta Gardens spokeswoman said.

Carol Willcox and grandson Tate Symes dressed in PPE at Jeta Gardens last week, to se their dying relative Ruth Symes, who died at Jeta Gardens on February 2.

Staff at the nursing home reported that after supplies of N95 masks ran out they were forced to wear paper surgical masks.

ALP candidate for the federal seat of Forde Rowan Holzberger said he had spoken with two staff members who confirmed the mask supply crisis at the centre.

Rowan Holzberger at Jeta Gardens Aged Care residents removed. PHOTO: Annette Dew

“I’ve been speaking to staff who received text messages telling them to go easy on PPE because supplies were running low,” Mr Holzberger said.

“There are still chronic shortages of PPE and staff are being pressured to use PPE longer than it is safe.

“Despite the damning (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission) report about Jeta Gardens, the standards have continued to drop and I believe they are chronically under staffed.

“Staff complained to me that it was regular for one person to do the night shift and look after 100 residents.

“And still federal authorities are saying ‘nothing to see here’.”

Mr Holzberger said staff had lodged complaints with the ACQSC in January last year.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission issued a Notice to Agree on Wednesday, February 2.

As a result, Jeta Gardens’ management appointed an adviser to the facility who has a team to assist including two clinicians.

Jeta Gardens on Saturday. PHOTO: Annette Dew

The shocking text message came to light after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a package of measures on Monday including setting up a team of Australia Defence Force personnel to help out in the aged care sector in “extreme situations”.

On the weekend, Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck’s office said a surge workforce, including clinical first responders, had been sent to Jeta Gardens last week to stabilise the situation.

Additional nurses and personal care workers were also sent to support the staff and care for residents before the situation stabilised on Saturday.

Jeta Gardens staff in protective plastic gowns on Saturday. PHOTO: Annette Dew

Senator Colbeck’s office said the federal government had also given Jeta Gardens personal protective equipment, PCR testing and rapid antigen test kits from the national medical stockpile.

Jeta Gardens received 5580 Rapid Antigen Tests along with 15,120 P2/N95 respirators, 7600 gowns, 36,000 gloves, 3000 protective goggles, and 60 bottles of hand sanitizer.

On Saturday, a federal Health Department spokesman said 100 residents at Jeta Gardens had tested positive for COVID-19 and 15 had died.

Eighty-two of 240 staff also tested positive but only four were still active cases.

The Older Persons Advocacy Network is also providing support to the facility, residents and families and has been organising meetings with residents and families.

Senator Colbeck’s office said all 2590 residential aged care facilities under the federal vaccination rollout were contacted and offered a booster clinic for residents and workers.

“In all, 76.2 per cent of those who are eligible to receive a booster have had one, and we encourage residents and their families to continue to support more people having their booster when they are due.”

Originally published as Jeta Gardens denies mask supply crisis and text telling staff to skimp on face shields