❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Karlarra House Aged Care Facility in South Hedland raises concerns about staffing levels, patient care, and management practices. The Minister's response addresses each concern, generally refuting the allegations and highlighting accreditation and existing procedures.
AnsweredQoN 7789Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In reference to complaints regarding the Karlarra House Aged Care Facility in South Hedland, I ask:
(a) what assessment has been made as to the staffing levels required to meet the needs of patients and staff in the safe and effective operation of this facility;
(b) are staff shortages currently resulting in staff being required to regularly perform double shifts to ensure patient care is maintained;
(c) has the Minister assessed complaints that staff have been then asked to sign notes stating they were not forced to undertake double shifts, and if not, why not;
(d) is it true that registered nurses who coordinate the facility after-hours are not trained in crisis management, and that during an after-hours false fire alarm event earlier this year management could not be contacted;
(e) are unpaid bills resulting in stocks of critical items such as incontinence pads running out, resulting in inadequate patient care;
(f) can the Minister advise whether all remuneration owed to staff for overtime and double shifts is paid up to date;
(g) on how many occasions have registered nurses been left alone on night duty to care for 28 patients for a full 10 hour shift with no relief for breaks;
(h) is it true that the Pilbara Aged Care Manager, with authority over the decisions of registered nurses, is herself not a registered nurse; and
(i) what steps will the Minister take to ensure that the care and safety of elderly residents at Karlarra House is not in any way compromised?
(a) what assessment has been made as to the staffing levels required to meet the needs of patients and staff in the safe and effective operation of this facility;
(b) are staff shortages currently resulting in staff being required to regularly perform double shifts to ensure patient care is maintained;
(c) has the Minister assessed complaints that staff have been then asked to sign notes stating they were not forced to undertake double shifts, and if not, why not;
(d) is it true that registered nurses who coordinate the facility after-hours are not trained in crisis management, and that during an after-hours false fire alarm event earlier this year management could not be contacted;
(e) are unpaid bills resulting in stocks of critical items such as incontinence pads running out, resulting in inadequate patient care;
(f) can the Minister advise whether all remuneration owed to staff for overtime and double shifts is paid up to date;
(g) on how many occasions have registered nurses been left alone on night duty to care for 28 patients for a full 10 hour shift with no relief for breaks;
(h) is it true that the Pilbara Aged Care Manager, with authority over the decisions of registered nurses, is herself not a registered nurse; and
(i) what steps will the Minister take to ensure that the care and safety of elderly residents at Karlarra House is not in any way compromised?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
14 days
(a) Karlarra House was reaccredited by the
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd
(the Agency)for the period 3 January 2012 to 3 January 2013. The Agency conducts independent audits of aged care facilities against national standards; Karlarra House was reaccredited as it meets the national standards including staffing and safe operation of the facility.
(b) No.
(c) The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Pilbara is not aware of any staff complaints. Staff who undertake additional shifts due to absence by a colleagues, sick leave or un-avoidable family commitments, do so on a voluntary basis. If none of the staff from Karlarra House wish to volunteer, staff are sourced from the co-located Hedland Health Campus (HHC).
In late last year, the Acting Coordinator of Nursing did request two (2) agency staff to note in writing that they were happy to undertake the additional shift on a voluntary basis.
(d) All WACHS Pilbara staff, including registered nurses who coordinate Karlarra House after-hours, are inducted to the WACHS Pilbara regional emergency management procedures that includes crisis management and fire and evacuation procedures.
I am advised that it is not true that during an after-hours false fire alarm event earlier this year that 'management' could not be contacted. The standard procedure is the HHC After-Hours Nurse Manager is contacted in the first instance, and it is that person who then escalates the matter to the Regional Health Disaster Coordinator and executive staff as required.
(e) No.
(f) Yes. WACHS Pilbara pays all staff wages and entitlements in accordance with Award provisions.
(g) None. The model of staffing at Karlarra House for the night shift is one (1) Registered Nurse, one (1) 'medication qualified' Enrolled Nurse and two (2) nursing assistants. All staff members are provided with scheduled paid breaks on site and can utilise the staff break room. Staff members on night shift are not permitted to go off-site during these paid breaks.
(h) The Manager Pilbara Aged Care is a non clinical executive position with the WACHS Pilbara. Clinical decisions are made under the direction of the Karlarra House Coordinator of Nursing and in consultation with the resident's doctor. The Coordinator of Nursing reports to the Regional Nurse Director for professional standards and advice on clinical matters.
(i) Accreditation of Karlarra House is granted by the Agency, which conducts independent audits of all residential aged care facilities against national standards (set by the Commonwealth Government).
In addition, Karlarra House has many mechanisms in place to report, manage and ameliorate clinical and non-clinical occupational risks to residents through ongoing continuous improvement in accordance with legislation, national standards and WACHS policy.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd
(the Agency)for the period 3 January 2012 to 3 January 2013. The Agency conducts independent audits of aged care facilities against national standards; Karlarra House was reaccredited as it meets the national standards including staffing and safe operation of the facility.
(b) No.
(c) The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Pilbara is not aware of any staff complaints. Staff who undertake additional shifts due to absence by a colleagues, sick leave or un-avoidable family commitments, do so on a voluntary basis. If none of the staff from Karlarra House wish to volunteer, staff are sourced from the co-located Hedland Health Campus (HHC).
In late last year, the Acting Coordinator of Nursing did request two (2) agency staff to note in writing that they were happy to undertake the additional shift on a voluntary basis.
(d) All WACHS Pilbara staff, including registered nurses who coordinate Karlarra House after-hours, are inducted to the WACHS Pilbara regional emergency management procedures that includes crisis management and fire and evacuation procedures.
I am advised that it is not true that during an after-hours false fire alarm event earlier this year that 'management' could not be contacted. The standard procedure is the HHC After-Hours Nurse Manager is contacted in the first instance, and it is that person who then escalates the matter to the Regional Health Disaster Coordinator and executive staff as required.
(e) No.
(f) Yes. WACHS Pilbara pays all staff wages and entitlements in accordance with Award provisions.
(g) None. The model of staffing at Karlarra House for the night shift is one (1) Registered Nurse, one (1) 'medication qualified' Enrolled Nurse and two (2) nursing assistants. All staff members are provided with scheduled paid breaks on site and can utilise the staff break room. Staff members on night shift are not permitted to go off-site during these paid breaks.
(h) The Manager Pilbara Aged Care is a non clinical executive position with the WACHS Pilbara. Clinical decisions are made under the direction of the Karlarra House Coordinator of Nursing and in consultation with the resident's doctor. The Coordinator of Nursing reports to the Regional Nurse Director for professional standards and advice on clinical matters.
(i) Accreditation of Karlarra House is granted by the Agency, which conducts independent audits of all residential aged care facilities against national standards (set by the Commonwealth Government).
In addition, Karlarra House has many mechanisms in place to report, manage and ameliorate clinical and non-clinical occupational risks to residents through ongoing continuous improvement in accordance with legislation, national standards and WACHS policy.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.