Bupa put on notice after shocking findings in aged-care audit

SENIORS left in pain, not getting their medication and repeatedly falling are among the revelations in shocking audit reports detailing “serious” concerns for the welfare of residents at more than a dozen aged-care homes run by health industry giant Bupa.

The country’s largest agedcare operator had $464.7 mil- lion in taxpayer funding last financial year to run its 72 centres — but 13 of those have been issued formal warning notices to improve standards or be hit with sanctions since last July.

The details of Bupa’s shocking record can be revealed as the aged-care royal commission held its first hearings in Adelaide this week.

Counsel assisting, Peter Gray, revealed residents and their families feared “intimi- dation and reprisals” if they made complaints. He told the commission to expect to hear “harrowing experiences” from family members and staff.

“We are grateful to them for their courage in being willing to bear witness to the effects that the aged-care system has had on them,” Mr Gray said.

News Corp can also reveal that the Morrison Government’s crackdown on dodgy providers has led to 27 facilities nationwide being cut off from government funding for new residents, after secret audits gave rise to concerns residents were being put in harm’s way.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said the steep rise in reports of serious risks had convinced him of the need for a royal commission.

A Health Department spokesman said its senior executives had met with senior staff from Bupa to work through the issues identified, including the sanctions imposed. Bupa chief operating officer Carolyn Cooper said providing quality care and support for residents of its homes was Bupa’s “absolute priority”.

“We have been taking immediate action to improve services at our care homes where issues have been identified, including recruiting additional staff and reviewing resident care plans,” she said.

The royal commission was also told yesterday that waiting times for home care packa- ges were too long and the levels of support provided often did not meet public expectations.

Older Persons Advocacy Network chief executive Craig Gear told the commission waiting times for some packages were up to two years.

“Supply is not meeting demand in Australia,” Mr Gear said. “At the moment that is equating to 18 to 24-month waiting times, and we would say that’s not acceptable.”