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‘ Contemptable ’ care
South Australian politician Frank Pangallo . Picture : James Elsby
MP calls for dismissal of care facility ’ s senior management .
An Australian politician is calling
for the senior management of a
South Australian aged care facility to be stood down following public outrage over its approach to a scabies outbreak at one of its hostels .
Frank Pangallo , a South Australian MP , told state parliament that Kindred Living ’ s treatment of residents and staff was “ contemptable ”.
Pangallo said that care workers reported to management numerous times an outbreak of scabies in cottage 3 of the provider ’ s Annie Lockwood Court Hostel .
“ Senior management ’ s reaction to these very serious concerns was appallingly inadequate … despite the outbreak spreading to more patients and a number of workers assigned to the cottage . A consulting doctor warned the rash would spread quickly .
“ Management had the audacity to blame one of the resident ’ s husband , Peter Strawbridge , for his wife Heather ’ s infection , saying it was probably caused by mosquitos during one of the daily walks he took his wife on .”
After he was contacted by Strawbridge , Pangallo reached out to A Current Affair , which then covered the story .
“ The media exposure prompted the federal government ’ s somewhat toothless watchdog , the Aged Care Quality and
Safety Commission , into action despite previous complaints falling on deaf ears ,” Pangallo said .
A non-compliance notice was issued in November to the approved provider for failure to comply with the standards relating to personal care and clinical care , and the organisation ’ s service environment .
The facility also received notices in 2019 and 2018 .
Late last year , a Notice to Agree was imposed on the facility due to “ an immediate and severe risk to the safety , health or wellbeing of care recipients ”, and related to all eight standards .
Pangallo said : “ I am now writing to its board , asking it to dismiss its senior management .
“ I ’ m also asking the federal aged care minister Greg Hunt how an aged care facility with such an appalling track record can continue to operate with current management in place and who actually controls the facility which take millions of dollar in commonwealth funding .” ■
Cabinet reshuffle
New Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler . Picture : AAP / Kelly Barnes
Albanese names new ageing , aged care ministers .
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has
appointed new figures to the party ’ s aged care and health portfolios as part of a cabinet reshuffle .
Albanese named climate spokesperson Mark Butler as the new Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing – a somewhat new portfolio with remits formerly held by Chris Bowen ( Health ) and Julie Collins ( Ageing ).
Collins – who has served as Shadow Minister for Ageing since 2016 and held onto the role in Albanese ’ s last reshuffle – was appointed Shadow Minister for Agriculture .
At a press conference announcing the changes , Albanese said : “ The role of our health system and our aged care system have never been more important .
“ Mark Butler has previously served in the government as a Minister for Mental Health and Ageing . He ’ s the only parliamentarian I know of who has written a book about ageing and aged care , and he will do an outstanding job .”
Ged Kearney , who has been Shadow Assistant Minister for Aged Care since mid-2019 , was named Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing , while Clare O ’ Neil took on the newly titled role of Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services .
Albanese said : “ The easy choice to make is to not make any changes and just keep things as they are .”
But , he added , he drafted the strongest team to form a Labor government .
“[ I ’ ve ] put head to head opposition portfolios in the same areas in which the government has its portfolios … to sharpen that focus going into the future .” ■
4 agedcareinsite . com . au