Cuts hint at Haven troubles

FORMER staff of the beleaguered Earle Haven nursing home say they were purchasing their own equipment to cover shortages, in the lead-up to the mass exodus of the facility.

According to those who were employed by contractor HelpSteet, operators were tightening their belt long before they left over a contract breakdown in mid-July, leading to the emergency removal of more than 70 residents.

Julie Poacher who worked for the company as a nursing assistant from late 2017 to January this year said she had taken to purchasing her own disposable wipes in order to service the needs of patients.

“Incontinence pads were running short and there were complaints about the number of disposable chucks being used, staff morale was down,” Ms Poacher said.

“We got to the point where I was bringing the chucks in so there wasn’t any complaints about what was being used, we need them to clean things like faeces so can’t really skimp.

“Others took the ones from under the kitchen sink.”

Ms Poacher said a company-wide move to shift staff off casual into permanent parttime positions also led to more staff turnover.

“People were earning less than they had been before – I was told if you need to get another job that is fine, we can’t extend your hours. But at the same time they were advertising for more night staff.

“It got to a point where staff were changing over regularly, you didn’t know who was on from one day to the next.”

Ms Poacher and two other former staff members who chose not to be named said Nursing Union reports on low staffing levels were correct.