Vic: Elderly at risk from bad drug management - report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2003
Vic: Elderly at risk from bad drug management - report

By Ben Packham, Industrial Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Dec 11 AAP - Residents of a country Victorian nursing home were placed at
risk by sloppy drug management practices, according to a federal government report.

An audit team found Oasis Aged Care, at Irymple, near Mildura in the state's north,
had no way of checking whether residents' medication was properly prescribed.

"The team could not determine that the medications delivered to residents have been
prescribed or reviewed by a medical doctor, as medical charts are not used to record and
monitor residents' medications," the report said.

The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency issued a non-compliance finding on
medication management at the 30 bed home.

It said the lack of prescription tracking had the potential to affect residents' clinical
care needs.

But it decided to accredit the home for a further two years, saying it was satisfied
that problems would be rectified.

The report comes amid an inquiry into the death of an 89-year-old woman at the Vincenpaul
nursing home in Melbourne.

State Coroner Graeme Johnstone is investigating the woman's death, following allegations
she was given the wrong medicine.

The Health Services Union (HSU) said medication management continued to be a serious
problem in the aged care industry, due to variations in training and staff shortages.

HSU Victorian branch secretary Jeff Jackson said the federal government had to ensure
proper training of all staff in medication handling.

"There also needs to be minimum staffing levels put in place in aged care facilities
so there is a guarantee for residents and their families that their health and safety
is being properly looked after," Mr Jackson said.

Oasis Aged Care was not immediately available for comment.

A spokeswoman for Oasis Aged Care said the home had already taken steps to rectify
areas of non-compliance.

AAP bp/gfr/sco/br/jnb

KEYWORD: AGED VIC

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.