Media Statement - 22nd August 2007
The Government has failed to protect frail residents at Belvedere Park Nursing Home in Sydenham despite knowing for the past seven years that the owner, Mr Graeme Menere, had an appalling record of aged care provision.
The Herald Sun reports today the Department of Health and Ageing saying "this level of non-compliance is unprecedented" and requiring the residents to be moved to other aged care facilities by tomorrow.
Kenilworth Nursing Home, also owned by Mr Graeme Menere, had its funding cut off by the Government in 2001 after it was sanctioned by DOHA five times in 2000. At the time it was reported the Federal Government identified Kenilworth as the worst aged care facility in the country.
In 2000 Belvedere Park Nursing Home was also sanctioned three times in for substandard care and putting residents at "serious risk".
"The Government has known that Mr Graeme Menere has an appalling record of aged care provision. I want to know, and I am sure the families of the residents want to know, what the Government has been doing over the past seven years to protect the residents of this nursing home," Senator McLucas said.
"The Government has clearly failed to monitor the home on a regular basis to ensure there is no risk to the frail residents, despite knowing about the closure of Kenilworth and chronic non-compliance of Belvedere Park Nursing Home from at least 2000.
"If it is true that Mr Menere has been running the nursing home this is in contravention of the Aged Care Act as he has a criminal conviction. The Government needs to explain why this disqualified individual has been able to operate this nursing home and put frail elderly residents at risk.
"Aged care operators like this bring down the reputation of the whole aged care sector, but it appears that the Howard Government has had a hands-off approach to Mr Menere."