Adviser appointed as multiple issues found at Jeta Gardens amid worsening Covid outbreak

An adviser has been appointed to take over a southside aged care facility at the centre of a deadly Covid outbreak that has claimed the lives of 15 residents.

A southside aged care facility at the centre of one of Queensland’s deadliest Covid outbreaks has been hit with regulatory action.

An adviser was appointed to Bethania’s Jeta Gardens on Friday after high-level talks were held between the facility’s representatives, the federal Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and federal government.

On Wednesday, the ACQSC issued the facility a “Notice to Agree” with that regulatory action leading to the appointment of the adviser and a team to assist including two clinicians on Friday.

An evacuation of the centre was ruled out after it was deemed unnecessary.

Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck moved into damage control after 15 deaths at the facility in Logan.

Senator Colbeck’s office today released official figures showing 100 of the facility’s 161 residents testing positive.

The statistics showed 82 of the 242 staff had also tested positive for Covid but only four workers were active cases.

An Adviser has been appointed to raise the standards at Jeta Gardens Aged Care facility. Picture: Annette Dew

Speaking after the meeting, Forde MP Bert van Manen said the adviser had already started at the nursing home and would be working to ensure improvements to clinical governance and that best practice infection controls were in place.

“I am not sure if there is any financial penalty, there is more work to be done on that yet,” Mr van Manen said.

“There were a number of issues identified in their practices and it is mandatory that we now bring someone in to lift those standards so more people don’t die.

“My advice is that an evacuation is not required and was not discussed.”

Mr van Manen said he was not sure how many residents were currently in hospital but two ambulances took residents out this morning.

Forde ALP candidate Rowan Holzberger called for Senator Colbeck to be sacked and said the lack of precise information was a disgrace.

“He needs to tell people what is happening inside the home and fix this problem before more people die instead of going to the cricket,” he said.

“It’s a disgrace that the right information is not getting out to families.”

An ambulance arrives at Jeta Gardens nursing home. Picture: Annette Dew

Earlier, staff, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal, said there had been no testing procedures in place for those entering the building to start work.

They reportedly have been working double shifts to help out at the home and were concerned for their jobs if the facility were to close.

Commonwealth supplied, privately contracted health teams are available to all providers nationwide where staff have been furloughed.

They also reported that the complex’s excess rapid antigen tests had been sold to family members in the carpark for $10.

“People were doing double shifts before the Covid outbreak and there were not enough Registered nurses,” the staff member said.

“Most staff members have had Covid which shows the internal procedures are not working.”

A nearby aged care facility at Mt Warren Park had 10 cases where residents caught Covid but no deaths.

An elderly man on a stretcher was seen being loaded into an ambulance and driven off site this morning.

An elderly man was loaded into an ambulance during this morning emergency meeting. Picture: Annette Dew

The facility was put on a Covid alarm watch list earlier this week, after 15 deaths at the centre and horror stories of terrified residents.

At least 100 residents and 82 staff have been infected with Covid.

Strict security is this morning preventing staff and families from accessing the facility.

A Sullivan & Nicolaides worker was admitted to test residents for Covid, however, family hoping to get access to residents have been told they cannot enter.

An email sent to families of residents late Friday night.

Family and friends of residents at Jeta Gardens were sent a letter from management last night telling them the centre was not closing.

The letter, from CEO Wesley Carter, told families to be patient and wait for more information.

Robert Coles, whose elderly father has tested positive for Covid in the nursing home, said Jeta Gardens had not updated him on his father’s status for two weeks.

“A couple of weeks ago we were told he had tested positive,” Mr Cole’s said.

“They we’re going to check him every week but I haven’t heard anything g for the last two weeks.”

Jeta Gardens at Bethania is under investigation after 17 Covid deaths

He said Jeta had not told him what the results were and attempts to call the centre had failed.

Staff said residents were tested once a week.

Overnight, the federal health department said it would send medical staff and help to alleviate pressure on workers at the home, where there are 357 elderly living.

One family member, who could not be named, said they had been told that some of the sicker residents in lockdown with Covid, would be moved into state hospitals today.

Originally published as Adviser appointed as multiple issues found at Jeta Gardens amid worsening Covid outbreak