AN EMPLOYEE at Bupa Echuca has spoken out, claiming Bupa’s ‘‘policy of inaction’’ with unwell residents has contributed to increased hospitalisations and, in some cases, death.
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The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the local facility offers poor training and is severely understaffed, currently employing only one nurse per 60 residents.
They said this understaffing was inflicting enormous stress on staff, increasing the risk of mistakes.
Bupa Echuca has been under a cloud since the Department of Health imposed sanctions on March 26 for the facility’s failure to provide care consistent with accreditation standards.
The sanctions mean Bupa Echuca will not receive payment from the Australian Government for new residents until late September this year.
The employee said staff had been left in the dark over the reasons for the sanctions.
‘‘(It) has been devastating for many of the dedicated staff that work there,’’ they said.
‘‘Echuca Bupa care home is an accredited and award-winning care home. Many staff will always put their elderly residents they love first.’’
But the employee claimed the facility’s failure to meet standards was largely due to poor management.
‘‘The current temporary manager from Bupa Bendigo doesn’t have the support of the staff at all levels,’’ they said.
‘‘Staff working at Bupa have indicated the current general manager has actually caused the circumstances occurring at the Echuca care home, resulting in sanctioning.’’
The employee said Bupa had failed to educate international nurses working there who had ‘‘obvious skill, knowledge and language deficits’’.
‘‘If Bupa insists on bringing in overseas nurses then they have a responsibility to make sure they are competent in the tasks required,’’ they said.
‘‘They are literally thrown into the deep end, sink or swim.
‘‘Personal care attendants (PCA) have limited training and Bupa have the attitude of learn as you go on the job. They are truly the backbone of the care home and get no recognition for their contribution.’’
Where most health and welfare organisations have a paid time period for verbal handover at the change of shift, the employee said this wasn’t implemented by Bupa.
‘‘The PCAs who directly look after elderly residents would like to know if someone had a fall overnight or pain overnight, to assist with their care,’’ they said.
‘‘But this small but very important communication tool would cost Bupa money, it’s all about profits.’’
With 12 of Bupa’s 70 aged care homes currently sanctioned, the employee urged the company to learn from its policy and procedure failures.
And said they hoped the Royal Commission into Aged Care would result in real change.
‘‘Bupa you need to be shown for what you really are – greedy and immoral,’’ they said.
‘‘The elderly residents deserve to be cared for by qualified, competent staff trained to recognise when the elderly are becoming unwell.
‘‘Let’s hope the Royal Commission into Aged Care grows teeth and will make the recommendations to clean up this industry. We are asking Bupa to do the right and decent thing by the wonderful residents and the many dedicated staff.’’
A Bupa spokesperson said the organisation was dedicated to addressing the Department of Health’s findings.
‘‘(We) will not shy away from the responsibility that comes with fixing this situation and improving the standard of care,’’ the spokesperson said.
‘‘We will keep residents, families and staff informed throughout this process.
‘‘Our staffing levels are rostered around the care needs of our residents. Providing residents with quality care is not only influenced by the number of carers and nurses on a particular shift, but also the level of skill and training of those carers and nurses and the needs and acuity of the residents at the care home.
‘‘We encourage anyone who has specific concerns or information which could lead to improvements, such as some of those raised in the letter to the Riverine Herald, to contact us directly or if they prefer, through Bupa Australia’s confidential and independently operated whistle-blower hotline, ‘Speak Up’, on 1800 479 241.’’
In addition to the six-month Commonwealth funding cut, the sanctions include:
■ Requirement to appoint an adviser and administrator to assist the service to comply with its responsibilities in relation to care and services;
■ Requirement to provide relevant training for care staff, managers and key personnel to support them in meeting the needs of care recipients;
■ Suspension of the allocation of vacant places for six months; and
■ Revocation of all vacant places if the service is closed.
‘‘It is the responsibility of all providers to meet the required standards and where they fail to do this, there is a regulatory framework in place to bring them back into compliance as quickly as possible,’’ a Department of Health spokesperson said.
‘‘Throughout the sanction period, Bupa Echuca’s compliance against the accreditation standards will be monitored.’’
Details about the sanction can be found on MyAgedCare.
The Riverine Herald was barred from attending the meeting and told it would receive a statement from Bupa, however no information on the outcomes of the meeting has been received to date.
Senior Journalist