NURSES at Kirralee Nursing Home have been forced to cook and clean due to staff cuts, a union has said.

The Australian Nursing Federation met with staff yesterday amid controversy surrounding the standard of care at the facility.

Kirralee failed in 33 of 44 minimum standards during a July 18 government inspection.

Also identified were five areas where patients were placed in "serious risk" of harm becauase of a lack of food, water, pain management and skin care.

Management at the nursing home yesterday denied any staff cuts.

"That's not true, and hasn't happened," spokeswoman Ingrid Svendsen said.

"Staffing levels at Kirralee are above the industry standard.

"There has been no reductions in the number of nursing and personal staff."

ANF Victorian Branch assistant secretary Yvonne Chaperon said staff had been guaranteed their jobs by management, and the union was pleased since the controversy began that "holes" in rostering had been filled.

"The (July 18) report hasn't been released and, from what we have been told, it's a documentation issue and if that's the issue the heart of the problem is having the appropriate number of staff to fulfill those obligations," she said.

"Members have reported to us other areas of the work force in Kirralee have been cut.

"That's domestic staff including kitchen and laundry staff, and the nurses are being asked to undertake those duties and that takes them away from caring."

Since the inspection the Federal Government has imposed the "strongest ever" sanctions placed on an aged care facility.

They include the appointment of an administrator to oversee its operation for the next six months, and employment of more specialist staff including a dietician.

Source: The Courier