The Not For Profit provider has refuted claims by the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) that residents weren’t showered, were left alone on the toilet for long periods of time and went underfed at its Pioneer Lodge facility in Bundaberg.
QNMU acting secretary Sandra Eales also claimed a memo from Blue Care on December 11 showed that an Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA) representative visited the facility on December 9 and found a resident hanging out of bed calling for help.
The QNMU says residents are suffering due to chronic understaffing, but a Blue Care spokesperson told us these claims were inaccurate.
“On average, Blue Care staffing levels are in line or higher than industry standards across our facilities and Registered Nurses continue to have special responsibility for the administration of complex and high risk medications,” they said.
“Pioneer Lodge was recently audited by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (ACCQA), which is not uncommon across the Aged Care Sector and issues that were identified are currently being addressed.”
Blue Care currently has 47 aged care facilities across QLD.
