The aftermath: could it be prevented?
Aged care workers should not be “singled out” as a result of one tragic incident, Aged Care Association Australia chief executive, Rod Young, says as he reflects on the fatal fire at a New South Wales aged care facility, allegedly ignited by one of its own workers.
Aged care workers should not be “singled out” as a result of one tragic incident, Aged Care Association Australia chief executive, Rod Young, says as he reflects on the fatal fire at a New South Wales aged care facility, allegedly ignited by one of its own workers.
At the time of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire, Domain Principal Group confirmed its facility was fully compliant and accredited by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.
According to a media statement released by the organisation, all employees on duty at the time of the fire had reportedly completed criminal history checks and their nursing registrations had been verified with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
“There doesn’t appear to be any apparent evidence brought to life as to why this tragic event occurred… only when we know more about the individual and circumstances, and what triggered this, then we will be able to make a proper assessment of how this might have been avoidable,” Mr Young says.
The death toll from the Quakers Hill Nursing Home has risen to 10, with the accused registered nurse, employed by the home, in custody and charged with eight counts of murder relating to the fire. NSW police have refused to speculate on whether the accused would face more murder charges.
With extensive tests already reportedly in place to ensure aged care workers are capable of carrying out their duties, Mr Young says people are “jumping at solutions” such as the need for increased psychological testing of staff.
“There are already extensive police checks and screenings, and it’s almost impossible to guarantee that someone is completely suitable to work with vulnerable people.
“We have to be conscious that if somebody sets out to do what this guy appears to have done, we would all do anything to have prevented it and create a set of rules to prevent it from happening again,” Mr Young explains.
However, it appears there is only so much that can be done to prevent a person from doing the unimaginable, with Mr Young suggesting if there were to be a set of circumstances “so restrictive” which providers were required to adhere to before employing someone, it may be difficult to attract people to an industry already facing a shortage of workers.
New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell last week called for an urgent review into how nursing staff are screened following charges laid over the Quakers Hill nursing home fire.
Premier O’Farrell also called on the physical structures of nursing homes and retirement villages across the state to be checked, claiming the government would ensure “lessons are learnt out of this tragedy”.
Council on the Ageing chief executive, Ian Yates, tells DPS News: “We shouldn’t assume things until we know more.
“I think we will have to await some detailed enquiries to see whether there are any implications for staff screenings or monitoring… I think it’s not something that lends to itself about casual comment for staff screening until a detailed enquiry reveals more.
“We need to know the background to see whether this was something that could have been foreseen. Tragedies happen in all aspects of life that we wish we could have known about prior, but aged care is already a highly regulated industry,” Mr Yates says.
“If there were warning signs, then we can learn some lessons… but sometimes people snap and we just don’t know why,” he adds.
A memorial service dedicated to residents, who lost their lives and suffered injuries in the fatal fire, was held last Wednesday (23 November 2011).
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