North Richmond’s Ron Middleton VC aged care facility warned of ‘sanction’ over COVID outbreak

A COVID outbreak at the RSL Lifecare’s Ron Middleton VC Gardens aged care facility, which has seen at least 9 residents and 17 staff come down with the virus over the last 3 weeks, has led to the Federal government stepping in and threatening to slap a sanction on due to non-compliance on health grounds.

The sanction threat is damning – the government’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) saying they took action because they had, “identified that there is an immediate and severe risk to the safety, health or well-being of care recipients to whom the approved provider is providing care”.

RSL Lifecare says one resident is currently in hospital with COVID, and 2 other residents also have the virus. The NSW Public Health unit has been on site to help improve safe operating procedures.

There are 80 residents at the nursing home which includes a dedicated dementia ward, home to 20 residents.

If aged care facilities do not comply with sanctions or ‘notice to agree’ from the ACQSC, they can ultimately lose their licence to operate.

ACQSC placed the potential sanction on the home just off Pecks Rd on Wednesday and gave them until last night to appoint an independent compliance advisor for 4 months, at their cost – to “assist them to comply with their responsibilities”. We’re told by ACQSC today an advisor has now been appointed.

The home’s staff also have to be trained in “best practice infection prevention and control”, with a written training plan provided to the Commission by February 10, and written evidence of successful completion of the specified training by 18 May.

The ACQSC says it is “continuing to monitor the service’s return to compliance”.

RSL Lifecare’s Acting CEO, Drew Pearce, told the Post today, “there are currently 3 residents at Ron Middleton VC Gardens who are COVID-positive with one resident requiring hospitalisation.

“RSL Lifecare is working in close cooperation with the NSW Public Health Unit and relevant stakeholders on containment and response measures to protect residents and our employees.”

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