A Berry aged care facility will be forced to turn away new residents for the next six months, after being sanctioned by the Department of Health.
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The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has identified issues with non-compliance at Berry’s Bupa aged care facility, which are yet to be released publicly.
A Bupa spokesperson said the company was working with the Department of Health to address the issues detailed in its report.
“Bupa Berry will not be admitting new residents for the next six months, as we focus on our current residents,” the spokesperson said.
“Independent advisers have been appointed to help us work through the issues identified by the Quality Agency, and we are in the process of making the necessary improvements.”
According to the government’s My Aged Care framework, the Department of Health may implement sanctions on a facility if there is severe risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of someone receiving aged care services, or if a provider has received a Notice of Non-Compliance but has not fixed the problem in an agreed period of time.
Following the sanctions, Bupa Berry has also committed to the creation of a dedicated recruitment team, to add more employees to the Bupa Berry facility.
The spokesperson said Bupa apologised to the residents and their families of the Berry care home.
“Bupa is committed to making significant improvements at the home and regaining the trust of our residents and their families,” they said.
“This does not represent the high standards of aged care that Bupa stands for and that our residents deserve."
Bupa has also appointed former Health Services Commissioner of Victoria Beth Wilson to advocate for residents and families of the facility.
“Ms Wilson has been talking with residents and families across a number of our homes to consider how to improve our focus on what matters to residents, and their families. Ms Wilson will be attending the Berry care home in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.
Specific details about Bupa Berry's non-compliance will be released after residents and relatives are briefed.
A Department of Health spokesperson said the sanctions were made in line with government framework.
“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,” they said.
If families or friends have any concerns about the care of their relatives they should contact the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner on 1800 550 552.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
