QUEENSLAND now shares the inauspicious record of having the highest number of nursing homes under sanction this year.

This comes after a third aged care facility was found to be providing dangerous care to its patients.

A damning report was released on the Queensland Health nursing home,Yaralla Place in Maryborough.

The report reveals, among other problems, that patients faced periods of unnecessary pain, dehydration, an inability to eat meals and unsafe medication because Queensland Health staff disobeyed doctors' orders.

A report is yet to be released on the reasons behind the sanctioning of the two other facilities - Albany Gardens Nursing Centre on Brisbane's northside and the Ny-Ku Byun Hostel, Cherbourg.

Albany Gardens Nursing Centre has been sanctioned for seriously risking patients' health care.

Sanctions remain in place for at least six months, but Albany Gardens general manager James Saunders yesterday said the Department of Health and Ageing had now lifted its serious risk status, originally given because of a drop in permanent staff.

Ny-Ku Byun has been sanctioned over serious and regular non-compliance, although it has been passed on all of its care conditions.

Australia-wide, only eight aged care facilities have been sanctioned, including three homes in Victoria and two in South Australia.

Sanctions are the most severe penalty the Federal Government can place on a nursing home short of revoking funding.and shutting it down.

Agedcarecrisis.com founder Lynda Saltarelli said Queensland Health "should know better".

The Queensland Health-run Yaralla Place failed half of the nationally-required standards for nursing homes during an audit six weeks ago.

The audit report, released this week, states patients were left in pain at Yaralla Place because medication wasn't given in "a timely manner".

Staff in the centre also disobeyed doctors' directions on medications, failed to position patients properly, and did not keep patients effectively hydrated.

A statement from Queensland Health said the serious risk to patients had been resolved.  The sanction will remain in place until December 19.

Source: The Courier Mail - Tanya Chilcott