The plans to repatriate residents to a Melbourne aged care linked to 161 coronavirus cases have been pushed back by at least a week.
SBS Greek understands that St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner, in Melbourne's north is dealing with some compliance issues before readmitting residents.
Highlights
- Plans to bring back residents at St Basil’s have been delayed for at least a week due to pending compliance issues
- A coronial investigation has been announced in the death of five residents with police preparing a brief for the coroner
- The son of a former resident who died of COVID-19 is among those opposing the return of residents while the investigation is on
St Basil's chairman Konstantin Kontis, in aissued on Thursday, said that the Fawkner facility had been declared safe for the care of elderly and was "COVID-19 free” following deep cleaning and sanitisation.
Addressing the families and representatives of residents, the letter notes that St Basil's has been requested to clarify that return of residents would not commence until the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is satisfied with "all actions implemented".
According to ACQSC Commissioner, Janet Andersen, the facility has still not addressed some issues, including site safety, the provision of sufficient staff with a COVID-19 all clear, and confirmation that returning employees are appropriately trained.
A general view of the entrance of St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner. Source: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
A source close to the St Basil’s management has told SBS Greek that meeting all compliance requirements set for safe repatriation of residents will take at least a week.
In a statement on Friday, the Federal Aged Care Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck said that the aged care regulator had not yet approved a return plan to the nursing home run by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
"There certainly isn't a plan that's been agreed between the [Aged Care] Quality and Safety Commission and the Archdiocese at this stage to receive people back, so effectively nobody will be going back to that facility, " Senator Colbeck said.
Families objecting to residents’ return
While St Basil's is preparing for the return of elderly residents to the beleaguered facility, families of residents, both former and current, have raised objections at the plan.
“I personally wouldn’t leave my father or mother to be re-admitted at that aged care centre,” says Nicholas Barboussas whose father, Paul, was a resident at St Basil's.
Paul tested positive for COVID-19 after being hospitalised for an injury and passed on Sunday, 26 July.
Mr Barboussas had accused the management of not providing proper information to the family while his father was in the hospital.
Ellen Grouios's 80-year-old mother was a resident at St Basil's and is being treated for COVID-19 at the Northern Hospital. She is also opposing the plans for reopening St Basil's.
"Why on earth would we pull her out of hospital to send her back there when they couldn't manage the situation three weeks ago?" Ms Grouios told ABC Radio Melbourne.
All remaining residents at St Basil’s in Fawkner were evacuated to hospital on Friday, 31 July.
With 161 coronavirus cases linked to the facility, St Basil's is Victoria's second biggest COVID-19 aged care cluster, only behind Epping Gardens Aged Care, also in Melbourne’s north.
Ambulance officers remove a resident from the St Basil's Home for the Aged in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner on July 27. Source: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images
Coronial inquest underway
Meanwhile, the Coroner's Court of Victoria has launched an investigation into the deaths of five St Basil’s residents.
Coroner John Cain has directed Victoria Police to prepare a brief of evidence on the circumstances of the deaths, while the inquiry could potentially be expanded, should “other relevant deaths are reported or identified”.
At a Facebook group of families and loved ones of St Basil’s residents, Sash Petkovic is urging families to contact the Victorian Coroner’s Court to discuss their cases.
"My family has already done so and they have confirmed there is a Coronial Inquest into the deaths at St Basil's Aged Care, and that they are investigating every case that is put forward,” Mr Petkovic’s wrote to the group.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has so far received 18 complaints relating to St Basil’s in the last two weeks, with the provider asked to respond and address concerns raised.
The statement by ACQSC mentions that some of the complaints relate to "the period before the outbreak”, but the exact breakdown and dates are not provided.
St Basil’s management contends that "almost all […] relate to the period after 9 AM on Wednesday 22 July” which is when the federal health authority assumed temporary control at the facility, with a temporary workforce deployed after all employees were directed to self-isolate as close contacts of COVID-19 cases.
SBS Greek has contacted the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission with questions on the estimated date for residents’ return at St Basil’s to be given the green light, and a clarification on the exact numbers of complaints relating to the periods before and after Wednesday 22 July.
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