St Basil’s and Epping Gardens COVID-19 outbreak independent review released

A probe into St Basil’s and Epping Gardens nursing homes’ handling of deadly COVID-19 outbreaks has revealed a litany of failures.

Two Melbourne nursing homes where more than 80 residents died from coronavirus were not adequately prepared for an outbreak, according to a shocking new report.

The federal health department’s long-awaited independent review into the deadly clusters at St Basil’s Home for the Aged and the Epping Gardens facility was released on Monday.

The report reveals that the stark number of cases and deaths does not begin to convey the “trauma and grief” suffered by all residents, whether they contracted COVID-19 or not, and the “enormous impact” on their families.

“They do not account for the distress of staff members, who knew and had cared for residents for long periods but were quarantined and obliged to leave them in the care of ‘strangers’,” the review states.

Agency workers – who were brought in during Victoria’s second wave to replace staff forced to quarantine – came with basic English and “little, if any, preparation” or experience in aged care, and were also left “deeply traumatised”.

A picture of a St Basil's resident on the fence outside the Fawkner facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

Professor Lyn Gilbert and adjunct professor Alan Lilly were tasked with investigating the outbreaks after St Basil’s recorded 45 resident deaths, and Epping Gardens had 38 people die from COVID-19 between July and August.

Emergency planning and preparedness, along with surge workforce planning and staff training at both facilities was slammed by the inquiry as “inadequate” to manage the scale of the outbreak.

Infection prevention and control capacity and capability were dismal despite multiple reminders to providers to prepare for a potential COVID-19 outbreak.

As the virus rapidly spread throughout the community, many of the strict precautions were not taken by nursing home providers.

At least 103 residents and 86 staff were infected during the coronavirus outbreak at Epping Gardens. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

Pathology testing was also delayed at both facilities due to a surge in demand for public health and laboratory services, and the report states it potentially contributed to a further spread of coronavirus in the facilities.

Accreditation requirements, which had been met, were deemed “no match” for the virus.

Both facilities remain subject to a Notice to Agree – which if ignored could lead to government subsidies being revoked – issued by the aged care watchdog.

Leadership faltered, while integrated support and communication from the Health Department remained a challenge with the number of people and agencies involved deemed “confusing and intimidating” by providers.

In late July, defence personnel arrived at Epping Gardens to help the response. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

Families of residents who gave evidence to the inquiry told “harrowing and often tragic experiences” in the hope it could prevent future events.

Few relatives interviewed sought to apportion blame, the investigators said.

“Most of all, they were dismayed by the prolonged isolation and perceived neglect of their loved ones,” the report states.

“Giving a ‘voice’ to residents and their families is central to this review and when they speak, we must listen.”

Many people closely involved in managing the outbreaks also expressed “frustration and often guilt” about their failure to prevent its worst consequences, despite their best efforts.

“It is now imperative that the sector and those funding the sector understand what more needs to be done to optimally mitigate such outcomes into the future,” the report reads.

Flowers placed outside St Basil's nursing home in Fawkner. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

Health Minister Greg Hunt extended sincere condolences to the families of those who died.

He said the report underlined the critical elements that led to the tragic outbreaks and highlighted the vital role the Commonwealth played to support those affected.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said the government was working with stakeholders to adapt and refine the approach to outbreaks.

But opposition aged care spokeswoman Julie Collins said the report confirmed the Morrison government “did not have a plan for COVID-19 in aged care”.

Acting chief advocate for Leading Age Services Australia, Tim Hicks, said he took comfort that providers and governments had taken lessons from the report.

“There is no simple solution to managing a COVID-19 outbreak but we can have some confidence that everyone is much better prepared now than they were six months ago,” he said.

A coronial investigation into deaths at St Basil’s is ongoing.