Wednesday, October 14, 2009

PREMIER, MINISTER LUCAS AND MINISTER ELLIOT: WHY HAS THIS SERIOUS MATTER TAKEN OVER 12 MONTHS AND STILL NO OUTCOME.

Just click on documents to view.


Premier, Minister Lucas and Minister Elliot

Serious abuse of residents by a night shift staff member employed at Ebbtide House, Eventide, Brighton was reported to many different entities, by the sacked whistleblower.

To fulfill the obligation required under the Aged Care Act 1997, the email below was sent to the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme over 12 months ago on behalf of the informant. Why has this matter taken so long to resolve and still no results?

Over the last 12 months, this abuse was reported to the Department of Health and Ageing, Eventide management, Queensland Health's Ethical Standards Unit, the Queensland Police Service and the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

After twelve long months this matter is now supposed to be be reviewed by the Office of the Aged Care Commissioner.
So what ! Credible whistleblowers are damned if they do (report) and damned if they don't.


A detailed chronology of the last twelve months up will be posted shortly.

Information regarding this serious case was first posted on SING's website on the 1st February 2009. This case was first reported to many entities in September 2008.

Please see:
Prior to 3 June 2009:
Sunday, 1 February (last paragraph),
Sunday, 5 February (third paragraph),
Sunday, 15 February,
Tuesday, 24 February (anonymous whistleblower's own statement and post),
Tuesday, 3 March,
Wednesday, 4 March (last paragraph),
Thursday, 5 March (sacked whistleblower (support person) and witness gave evidence to the Ethical Standards Unit of Queensland Health)- over 6 months later.
Friday, 6 March (third last paragraph),
Thursday, 12 March (second last paragraph),
Thursday, 19 March (last paragraph,
Sunday, 29 March (last paragraph),
Friday, 3 April (last paragraph),
Thursday, 9 April,
Friday, 10 April (sacked whistleblower (support person) and witness gave evidence to the Queensland Police Service. Taped interview evidence has been offered to the Office of the Aged Care Commissioner),
Friday, 22 May,
Monday, 25 May ( 3rd paragraph),
Monday, 1 June (second post).

TO THE PRESENT DATE, NO ACTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.THE ABUSER STILL REMAINS AN EMPLOYEE OF QUEENSLAND HEALTH. THE SACKED WHISTLEBLOWER IS UNEMPLOYED AND THE INTERNAL WITNESS HAS MOVED TO ANOTHER FACILITY.

SING HAS DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT A SENIOR QUEENSLAND HEALTH EMPLOYEE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE TRIED TO INTERFERE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN INTERNAL WITNESS WHEN THAT WITNESS OBTAINED A CASUAL POSITION AT ONE OF QUEENSLAND HEALTH'S MAJOR HOSPITALS. THIS INTERNAL WITNESS WAS FORCED TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE AFTER RECEIVING NO FURTHER WORK FROM EVENTIDE NURSING HOME, BRIGHTON - AFTER SHE REPORTED ABUSE AND ASSAULT.

THIS MATTER AND THE UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF A PROTECTED WHISTLEBLOWER WAS REPORTED TO THE QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE. PASS THE PARCEL HAS BEEN PLAYED ONCE AGAIN WITH THE CMC REFERRING THESE SERIOUS MATTERS BACK TO THE SO-CALLED ETHICAL STANDARDS UNIT OF QUEENSLAND HEALTH.

SING SUGGESTS THAT NOTHING SHORT OF A PUBLIC INQUIRY WILL SUFFICE.

Just click on BLOG ARCHIVES and the month required, to view these posts.

6 comments:

  1. Until families take a strong political stand , the abuse will continue as will hte bullying of staff who dare to speak out.
    The investigation teams remain toothless while senior managers continue to lie and default documentation.
    DOHA is not interested in anything staff tell them - it is only what is on paper and we all know how fraudulant that is.
    The media and families who do not give up are the only ones who can make a difference for justice and humanity in aged care.

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  2. And so it goes on. Another resident dies in aged care because of incompetence.
    The resident is sent home from a major hospital with a Nill by Mouth order on his chart.So thats what he got until he starved to death. Was there an inquiry? Of course not because the church based organisation has a track record of covering up supicious deaths.
    It is time the police became more involved in residential deaths. The RN can sign the exstinct of life form and say nothing about the circumstances of the death. The doctor signs the death certificate and another suspicious death is buried.

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  3. Families need to know that when their loved one goes into care that is the day they cease to exist as a person.
    From then on they become a number and their spirit will be broken with in a month.
    They will learn to eat what is put in front of them or go with out.There is nothing else on the menu and there is no choice becuse the budget does not allow for choice.
    They will soon learn that toileting is a thing of the past now that continence aids are in vogue. Being told to pee in the pad is the norm not the exception.
    They will learn that being bored and lonely is an every day endurance.There are not enough DT staff to attend to everyone's needs becuse there is no funding for emotional social needs.
    Families need to feel fearful for their loved ones safety, as manual handing is not practiced according to the training. Short cuts are common and injuries are high, especially bruising and skin tears.
    Advice - be there every day and be a voice for your loved one and any other resident you see being mistreated or abused.
    Call the police to the facility if you suspect of witness abuse - and hold the organisation responsible.
    Aim for the one who is paid the largest salary because they are the decision makers who cull the staffing hours leaving your loved one at risk of all of the above.

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  4. In the private sector, lack of staff is acknowledged as a factor, but in this serious abuse/assault case however, the abuse was witnessed and reported by staff. Night shift staffing levels in this state government facility, was not a factor.
    SING has evidence that this abuser was reported many times for her protracted abuse of residents over many years.
    There are many aged care residents without families to 'be there every day'. The onus then rightly falls to the staff entrusted with their care.
    As proven by the very existence of this website - those staff who then proceed to fulfill their obligation under the Aged Care Act - become the messenger.
    'Shoot the Messenger" is alive and well in aged care, whether private or public sector.
    'Pass the Parcel' is alive and well in aged care, whether private and public sector.
    As proven on this website, many credible staff fulfilling their obligations and reporting abuse/assault are treated disgracefully by management. Termination of their employment, suspension, transfer, all of a sudden unfounded complaints regarding work performance appear on their PAD, deliberate rumors circulated that the messenger is mentally ill, forced psychiatric evaluations and many other steps taken to discredit the messenger.
    Even so some still speak out and continue to speak out, at great personal cost.
    SING advises credible staff that when all internal and external avenues for reporting abuse/assault of our elderly and disabled citizens has been exhausted - that staff contact the media. In the public interest and for the common good, the general public needs to be aware what is happening in our nursing homes, behind closed doors.
    SING advises that Whistleblower protection for staff speaking out has no teeth and needs to be addressed. Those with the courage to speak out - after exhausting all avenues within this flawed reporting system - have earned the right to contact the media. SING will support any staff or family member who takes this action - in the public interest.

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  5. Anonymous families need to know, this is so true I work in aged care, and I see things like this everyday. I also see a lot of good staff however the work loads are too heavy that good care can't always be given. Our aged residents are frail and move slow and can not be showered in 5 minutes. Management knows that this occurs, and they enable abuse because they turn a blind eye. In relation to the last comment I have also worked with the known abuser that was reported, all they do is move her into another area, and tell other staff to keep an eye on her. How much work can they put on carers, and Karen you were the one put off for speaking out while this abuser still works at eventide keep the good work up. Anonymous

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  6. Our aged are they really malnousihed or is it they don't have the staff. Today I alone looked after 15 Dementia sweet little old ladys the best l could. One was in her bed needing to be feed, while another lady was in her room and the other 13 were in the dining room with two needing to be hand feed and the rest needed promting to eat while they were wandering. I ask you how can this be done with one person? The meals they go cold and thank God nobody choked. It's sad to watch this. How we look after our Australian Aged with dignity.

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