Shocking dangers revealed in audit

ELDERLY residents have been bashed, underfed, neglected and left in pain in Queensland nursing homes over the past year, alarming government audits reveal.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) ruled residents were at “serious risk” in 16 Queensland nursing homes which failed quality audits during 2018-19.

Staff shortages left residents bedridden in pain with festering sores, refused access to doctors or drugged with the wrong medications.

An investigation reveals one in every 30 nursing homes in Queensland placed the health, safety or wellbeing of residents at “serious risk” of harm in the past year.

On the Gold Coast, Estia Health Mudgeeraba failed an audit in April because “the service does not have appropriately skilled and qualified staff” and “does not have a culture of reporting assaults”.

“Care recipients do not feel safe due to wandering and aggressive behaviours … by care recipients,” the report says.

Estia chief customer officer Damian Hiser said the ACQSC had visited the home again this month and “assessors were satisfied”.

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union yesterday condemned ACQSC’s failure to alert residents, their families or the general public when nursing homes flunk audits.

“This is totally unacceptable,’’ union secretary Beth Mohle said yesterday.

“When a facility fails to meet standards, those in care and their loved ones should be informed.”