NSW Health Minister apologises for neglect of aged care residents

A whistleblower has revealed maintenance failures at a Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) in the Central West town of Warren, 500km west of Sydney, leaving the Minister red-faced.

Staff at the 42-bed Warren MPS were forced to carry full bedpans to the adjacent acute ward because NSW Health had not repaired a broken sluice.

Aged care residents were also forced to eat meals from paper plates over a four-month period because a broken dishwasher had not been fixed.

“I apologise to the staff and patients at Warren MPS while these issues remain and I’ve been in touch with the NSW Health Secretary to make sure this is resolved as a matter of priority,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said.

A new dishwasher has reportedly been ordered, but no remedy has been sought for the sluice.

Multi-Purpose Services (MPSs) are Government owned and operated facilities. They provide integrated health and aged care services in regional, rural and remote communities that are deemed too small to support such a facility.

There are currently more than 180 MPS facilities Australia-wide, with nearly one-third (66) in NSW.