Federal officials to front families

FAMILIES of Earle Haven aged care residents who were removed from the nursing home in controversial scenes last week will today face the Federal Government over the chaos that left their frail relatives homeless.

But many doubt they will get a clear answer.

And the Federal Health Department has said that if they are unhappy with their new arrangements, they can move their relatives out.

The meeting, to be hosted by the Federal Health Department, is set down for 11am today in the now empty Earle Haven nursing home wing.

It will be the first time federal officials have faced the families over the crisis since the centre closed over a contract dispute last Thursday.

While concerned relatives of the 70 residents hope the Government will clear up major concerns – namely future accommodation and the circumstances that led to the dispute and exodus – the department has been less than forward about plans.

All families contacted by the Bulletin say they have been left in limbo for a week and have only been told to attend the meeting.

“Every time I call them they tell me someone, some time will contact me,” said a man whose 77-year-old father is in temporary accommodation. “We just need to know something so we can make decisions.”

Another told the Bulletin they felt they had been left in “limbo’’. “It is clearly temporary. They went from a single room to one shared with six people and no bathroom – they can’t live like this.”

But the Health Department said care recipients could leave if they were unhappy.

“Care recipients have been transferred to available aged care facilities as an emergency response,” a spokesman said.

“However, care recipients will not have to remain in these facilities unless that is their wish.”

Both the Health Department and Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck failed to respond to Bulletin questions about the scope of the investigation, how long it would take and the possibility of residents returning.

“The appropriate time to consider future action is once the investigation is completed and we know all the facts,” Senator Colbeck said.

The department would not detail the amount of taxpayer funding received by nursing contractor HelpStreet and Earle Haven operator PeopleCare for the care of residents, saying that information was protected under the Aged Care Act. HelpStreet said it was not involved with any other nursing homes nationally.

It is understood the State Member for Gaven, Meaghan Scanlon, had not been informed about the meeting today and had to write to the Aged Care Minister seeking information yesterday.

It is also understood Senator Colbek will not be present.

Concerns about the crisis causing a backlog for other people hoping to get into nursing homes were dismissed by the Federal Health Department, which said it had identified a “significant number of existing vacancies across Gold Coast”. It said a large number of beds had also recently become operational at Robina Hospital.