Millionaire owner Arthur Miller says Earle Haven nursing home exodus ‘should never have happened’

The multi-millionaire owner of Earle Haven in Nerang has apologised for the exodus from its nursing home wing, saying it should ‘never have happened’.

THE multi-millionaire owner of Earle Haven in Nerang has apologised for the exodus from the facility’s nursing home, saying it should “never have happened”.

However, Arthur Miller cancelled a media event where he would have faced a barrage of questions and instead issued a statement which did not reveal when the facility would open again.

The shock shutdown on July 11 forced the emergency evacuation of 71 residents, with one woman badly injured in the exodus.

People Care managing director Arthur Miller. Picture: AAP Image/John Gass

Mr Miller, 77, the managing director of People Care Pty Ltd, offered an apology and said he was “deeply sorry that residents of Hibiscus House and Orchid House were displaced from their homes on the night”.

“It should never have happened,” he said.

Mr Miller blamed HelpStreet Villages, which was brought on by People Care last year to operate Earle Haven’s nursing home wing.

People Care was the Federal Government approved aged care provider and owner of the nursing home.

Mr Miller said he’s been asked “time and again” how the crisis came to a head.

“At this stage, all I can say is that People Care’s primary motivation has always been to ensure that the residents of Hibiscus House and Orchid House receive quality care,” he said.

“People Care entered into a management arrangement with HelpStreet in April, 2018 believing that they would provide that quality care. Unfortunately, I soon saw signs that the level of care might not be what was promised. After receiving numerous resident complaints and worries about changes being implemented without consultation or choice, I arranged an independent audit.

“Based on my observations, the outcome of the audit and legal advice, I took the step of terminating the arrangements between People Care and HelpStreet.”

Hibiscus Lodge at Earle Haven Retirement Village. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

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Mr Miller said he gave HelpStreet “over a month” to vacate “and specifically noted that we must ensure an orderly transition of records of staff and to maintain the care of our residents in their homes”.

He claimed HelpStreet stood down staff, called authorities advising there was no caregivers, removed records and documents and phoned members of the media.

“If only People Care or the (Federal) Government were notified before these steps were taken, the situation could have been so very different,” Mr Miller said.

“We must now look to what needs to happen to minimise the devastating impact of these actions and, importantly, what we can do to ensure this never happens again.”

People Care managing director Arthur Miller (left). Picture: AAP Image/John Gass

Mr Miller said HelpStreet’s former workers were being paid “some much-needed money” and People Care was negotiating for “temporary access” to patient care records, while “recovering the remaining information”.

Mr Miller said People Care’s staff were visiting residents and “providing emotional support”, while co-operating with government departments.

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He said reopening the nursing home was not an easy process.

“It is just not that simple. It is important that the premises are made safe and, in light of what has gone on, that the government is satisfied about the safety,” Mr Miller said.

“This means many things — including showing adequate staffing numbers, as well as complete records.”

HelpStreet CEO Kristofer Bunker speaks about the shock events of July 11. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Mr Miller conceded there was “so much uncertainty” and promised “we will do our very best to find a solution which can provide certainty in a timely manner”.

HelpStreet CEO Kristofer Bunker previously told the Bulletin it was not his company’s decision to abandon the nursing home.

“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.”

Mr Miller emphasised Earle Haven Retirement Village remains open, separate from the nursing home fiasco.