EVENTIDE Nursing Home in Brighton has been found in breach of the Aged Care Act 1997 by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA).

The breach comes after an elderly resident was allegedly found unconscious after left hanging in a hoist by a male nurse on March 20.

Whistleblower Karen Smith, who is an Advanced Assistant in Nursing at Eventide, reported the incident after finding out that nurses involved were allegedly directed not to report the incident by management.

Ms Smith said, “I have been informed that the resident was being transferred by one person only, when he positioned the hoist up so high that it became jammed.

He was afraid to call for assistance - as he knew that he was hoisting by himself, against policy. I am informed that he left this resident hanging in the hoist. “When he returned to the room, with a co-operative co-worker, the resident was found still hanging and allegedly unconscious.”

The DOHA found that Eventide was in breach of its responsibility of the Act and said, “It was satisfied that Queensland Health (QH) had already undertaken appropriate actions to remedy this breach.”

The DOHA also released information to the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency for further action. However, Ms Smith said the outcome from DOHA was a disgrace and she had formally complained to the Crime and Misconduct Commission - about the direction given to the staff concerned not to report this as an incident.

“Firstly this incident was never reported through the official electronic reporting system, secondly staff were requested not to report the matter, thirdly anyone left hanging in a hoist for that period of time would have something happen to them, fourthly the nurse did not press the help/alarm button (he must have known he’d done the wrong thing) and lastly if something is not serious why did the nurse go on probation?”

The Star Newspaper asked Eventide management why only one nurse was hoisting a resident; why the incident was not reported electronically and how they could assure families of residents that this would not happen again?

Northside Health Service District Manager Mary Montgomery said, “This incident was reported to management and an immediate clinical assessment was carried out.” “A workplace health and safety risk assessment has been carried out on the hoist equipment and found that the hoist had malfunctioned at the time of use.

“The doctor and nurse checked the resident’s condition and she was found to be unharmed.

The staff member involved in the incident has undertaken additional manual handling training and competency assessment.

“Queensland Health and Eventide aged care facility staff apologise for any distress or concern caused to the resident and family by the incident.”

Source: Baystar - Jessica Train