Staff members who hosted an unauthorised party at an aged care centre that is now riddled with COVID-19 cases have been slammed by the facility’s CEO and the resident’s families.
Six staff members were stood down on July 29 when it was revealed that an unauthorised baby shower had taken place at Epping Gardens in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
At the time there had been no positive coronavirus cases.
The party was discovered by resident Maureen O’Brien, who buzzed for a nurse to attend but no-one checked in on the event happening or responded to the call.
She pulled herself out of bed to find help but was met with the party happening.
“She struggled to get up on her frame and she went to the nurses station and asked for a Panadol,” her daughter Donna told 4 Corners on Monday.
“She was told off quite severely … but my mum wanted to know, ‘Why are all these people here. What’s going on?’ She thought it was a get-together.”
In just four days, the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in the facility.
A staff member had been infected along with a resident.
After just six days, the virus was found to be spread to 60 residents and 22 staff, including all six of the attendees of the baby shower.
In fact, it was discovered that two of the staff members breached COVID-19 checks to get into the facility on a night they were not rostered to work.
20 deaths have been linked to the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility so far and it is expected that more are likely to arise.
Greg Reeve, CEO of Heritage Care which manages the facility, said: “It was arranged by one of the more senior registered nurses at the time.”
He said the party was “beyond the pale”.
“It was unauthorised, breached protocols,” he said.
“I can speak not only as CEO but as a registered nurse. I think the lack of regard they have shown is something that is beyond the pale.”
Mr Reeve’s said he did not know when asked by 4 Corners whether the party was solely the responsibility for the outbreak at Epping Gardens.
A class-action lawsuit on behalf of 30 familiars affected by the outbreak at Epping Gardens is being managed by lawyer Tony Carbone who says that residents suffered due to the conditions of the aged care centre.
Mr Carbone said that as cases climbed, staff were either unable to work or did not want to become infected themselves which left a void in the amount of staff members working. This impacted the quality of care residents received.
“There were cases where people weren’t fed,” Mr Carbone said.
“Which is extraordinary when you think about it.”
Mr Reeve rejected the allegation that residents’ care needs weren’t met.
“I don’t think they were neglected,” he said.
