'Two Nursing Home Patients 'Under 25kg: Report,' AAP, July 29, 2008 (Also The Age, The Australian, The Herald-Sun).
Two elderly residents at a facility in East Ballarat weighed less than 25 kilograms when federal inspectors staged a surprise inspection earlier this month. 10 patients in total were found to be significantly underweight; others were left with untreated bedsores. Management at the 100-bed Kirralee Aged Care Facility could face criminal charges the federal government stating it had risked residents health and safety.
"The situation at Kirralee is entirely unacceptable; in the interests of all residents, the department has imposed strong sanctions," Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said. Under the sanctions, an administrator will be appointed with clinical practice supervised for six months; Commonwealth subsidies for new residents to be denied during that time.
The manager of Kirralee, Ms. Julie Reed, today issued an apology to residents and family members. I deeply regret the way in which this matter has been publicly highlighted and I apologise to any resident or family member distressed by this, she said. The care of our residents is at all times our highest priority. This is the second time in two years the facility has been sanctioned for providing inadequate care.
