Medicos recall ‘trauma, chaos’
GOLD Coast Health emergency doctor Hayley Frieslich stood at the door at Earle Haven on the night of July 11, 2019, and felt helpless in the “chaos” and “desperation” happening around her.
Vital equipment such as medication, fridges, beds and gloves was being taken out the door and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“I hadn’t experienced that level of human distress,” Dr Frieslich said. “I was thinking we have to make sure this never happens again. The level of human suffering cannot be explained in words.
“As we were just standing at the front door I saw multiple pieces of equipment being taken, and I found that really distressing to see that being marched out of the door knowing it would have a significant impact for the residents.”
Unable to stop the removal of Help Street equipment, staff were then tasked with calling all the nursing homes in the area to find space.
QAS officers assessed and filled out “disaster cards” to assess patients and find vital information such as names, dates of birth and medical needs.
“A few of the Earle Haven staff stayed back knowing they would not get paid, which helped with identification,” Dr Frieslich said. A GP for the facility also arrived to help.
For Queensland ambulance officer in charge Andre Gollop, seeing patients watch as their homes were closed around them was unforgettable.
“It was on a different level,” he said. “Often we will see traumatic injuries but these were psychological injuries. The residents were really distressed they had just lost their home.”
JUST 12 short months ago we were shocked and appalled by the images we saw. Sixty-nine older people evacuated by police and ambulance from an aged-care home, whose sole purpose was to provide care for vulnerable residents.
Our shock was heightened ... it was here, right here on our doorstep. The images from Earle Haven were beyond belief. We asked ourselves how could this happen. We asked government for an explanation.
Government responded quickly. Not with one inquiry, but two by the Commonwealth and state governments.
The aged care Royal Commission and joint Queensland
CEO, Aged & Disability Advocacy Australia
parliamentary committee also expanded the scope of their inquiries to seek an answer.
Fast forward 12 months and we expect that it is all sorted.
For those at the coal face we know this is not the case.
The aged-care system is fundamentally broken. There is still much to do if we are to have a system we are proud of.
Sadly, Earle Haven is not a fairytale story with a “happily ever after” ending.
On a positive note, what happened at Earle Haven has sharpened governments’ resolve. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission stepped up. It has become less tolerant of poor behaviour.
With the arrival of COVID-19, reform has slowed.
Focus has rightly turned to keeping vulnerable older Australians in aged care safe.
The recommendations of the inquiries have been lost in the pandemic. The Royal Commission findings will not be released until February 2021.
Those of us supporting older people in aged care are keen to ensure that momentum for reform is not lost.