Dementia patient’s maggot-infested wounds discovered during Christmas visit to Roy Fagan Centre

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: The family of a man in care at a Tasmanian health facility have spoken out after finding him with an open wound infested with maggots on Christmas Day.

• Residents terrified after ‘explosion’ on busy street
• Tasmania-New Zealand travel bubble delayed

HEALTH authorities have launched an investigation into the discovery of a diabetic dementia patient with maggot-infested wounds in the state’s top mental health facility.

The 78-year-old man’s condition was discovered by his family during a visit to the Roy Fagan Centre in Hobart on Christmas Day.

His daughter is calling for answers about why he smelled, apparently wasn’t showered for three days and why injuries to his legs and the maggot infestation were not attended to.

The man and his family cannot be identified due to the provisions of the Mental Health Act.

She made the grim discovery while helping her father change his clothing.

“I was pulling his socks down around his ankles and that’s when the maggots fell out onto the floor,” she said.

“I said ‘Oh Jesus, there are maggots in his socks. They fell out from near the wound and there were more attached to his skin. The man’s elderly wife was present when the discovery was made.

The woman’s father was found with maggots in an open wound while at care in the Roy Fagan Centre.

“At the time I was shaking and mum said ‘right, we’re getting him straight out of here’. “She was absolutely devastated. It’s outright neglect. That is how she feels about it.”

“The man had been transferred to the Roy Fagan Centre from a nursing home to help with his dementia. She said staff were apologetic, but the man’s care should have been better.

“Even animals are looked after to stop them getting flyblown — that’s what has happened to my dad. He’s been fly blown. It’s just neglect.

“He worked hard all his life and paid his taxes. When he needs care and support he should be able to get that.

The infected wound.

“You don’t want to be sat in a corner and have flies eat you, and that’s what has happened to dad.”

What was supposed to be a short Christmas visit became a daylong ordeal as the family urgently transferred the man to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he is recovering.

His daughter has written to several members of parliament and the family has received personal apologies from Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Health Minister Sarah Courtney.

“I appreciate that they have called and they’ve got onto it and there is an investigation but at the same time I needed to tell dad’s story.”

The Medical Director of Statewide Mental Health Services Dr Ben Elijah apologised for the shortcomings in the man’s care.

“An internal investigation has commenced into the matter, and senior clinical staff are currently reviewing the clinical and nursing processes in place.

“We have apologised to the family and are very concerned to ensure an incident such as this does not occur again.

“The family of the patient will be kept informed as we progress through the investigation and we will discuss the findings and subsequent actions to be taken when that process concludes.”

Maggots crawling on the floor after the wound was undressed.

Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie has spoken to the family and is appalled by the story.

“This is a shocking example of medical neglect and elder abuse,” he said.

“Thank heavens he has a daughter to look out for him and to speak up for him.

“It’s anyone’s guess how many other people are being terribly neglected and suffering in silence because no one knows about their circumstances.”

Mr Wilkie said the care the man received was not good enough.

“The health system shouldn’t need to rely on family and friends to safeguard patients,” he said.

“Ultimately this dreadful situation is entirely the state government’s fault because it’s the government’s responsibility to oversee, manage and resource the public health system effectively. And clearly, it’s not doing that.

“The state government needs to immediately investigate what happened to this man and to do everything in its power to prevent a repeat.

“A good start would be funding the health system effectively, including mandatory minimum staffing levels in places like Roy Fagan.” 

Follow @DavidJKillick