Ex-Oakden nurse Arthur Moutakis disqualified after professional misconduct at notorious Adelaide aged-care home

A former nurse at the notorious Oakden care home – whose job it was to investigate family complaints – has been banned by a tribunal over “professional misconduct”.

A disgraced ex-nurse at SA’s disgraced Oakden aged-care home whose job included investigating family complaints has been reprimanded and disqualified for three years for professional misconduct.

The SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled Arthur Moutakis, who held multiple roles throughout his ten years at the Oakden, “failed to managed complaints and adequately perform his roles and responsibilities” to the standard expected of registered nurse.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia referred Mr Moutakis to the tribunal in 2022 after an investigation into his conduct, alleging he “posed a serious risk to persons”.

He held the roles of consumer adviser and consumer liaison officer at Oakden between 2007 and 2017.

“These vulnerable residents put their trust in nurses, managers and facilities to care for them when they need it most and it’s important that this trust is upheld,” NMBA chair Professor Veronica Casey said.

“These investigations uncovered practices that fall a long way short of community expectations and the need for health practitioners to discharge their professional responsibilities, including in relation to clinical governance, even in failing health services.”

A coronial inquest in 2018 heard the Oakden care home for older people with dementia and severe mental illness was run like “a zoo” by “manipulative” and “incompetent” staff who would sabotage any efforts to improve standards.

Allegations of abuse at the state government-run facility first came to light after the family of dementia sufferer and resident Bob Spriggs began asking questions about his treatment in 2016.

The concerns of Mr Spriggs’ wife Barbara led to a series of investigations including an ICAC probe, Senate inquiry and royal commission.

Barbara Spriggs and her son Clive Spriggs speak to media after giving evidence at the Royal Commission into Aged Care in 2019. Picture: AAP / James Elsby

On Monday, in deciding a sanction for Mr Moutakis’ misconduct, the tribunal took into account it was his responsibility to act in a timely manner and properly investigate the complaints of consumers, family members staff concerning the “appalling nursing practices, conduct and standard of care at Oakden”.

They also rejected a submission his behaviour represented an isolated incident “given the misconduct occurred over a sustained period of time”.

In February 2018, an ICAC report found residents suffered neglect due to a shortage of staff to the point the facility was “medically unsafe, as well as reports of patients being assaulted”.

A number of Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency investigations resulted in multiple staff disqualifications, including former manager Julie Harrison and former Oakden nursing manager Kerim Frederick Skelton. Both were banned from nursing for at least a decade.

“The residents at Oakden did not receive the level of care that they were entitled to expect,” AHPRA chief Martin Fletcher said.

“It is imperative that we learn from these events to improve patient safety and ensure that this can never happen again.”

Mr Moutakis will be eligible to register as a nurse in 2027.

Originally published as Ex-Oakden nurse Arthur Moutakis disqualified after professional misconduct at notorious Adelaide aged-care home