Oakden Mental Health Facility

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS (Taylor—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:26): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS: I rise to update the house about the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Services facility. In late February 2017, the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency made an announced visit to Oakden. This involved a return on Monday 6 March 2017 for an unannounced review audit, and six days were spent assessing the facility against 44 standards of accreditation.

I am advised that the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network was informed on 17 March 2017 that 15 of the 44 standards relating to education and staff development, regulatory compliance and continuous improvements in care were deemed not met in two wards, Makk and McLeay, despite the Oakden campus previously achieving full accreditation against those 44 standards in February 2016 and being accredited through to 30 April 2019. As result of the most recent advice, the commonwealth Department of Health has now imposed three sanctions on the Makk and McLeay aged-care facility relating to financial payments to the facility and aged-care provider status.

I am advised that the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network was taking, and continues to take, immediate steps to ensure that the quality of care at Oakden is of the highest standard and that all residents are safe. I am also advised that the steps taken include employing a new clinical practice coordinator with extensive experience in aged care and dementia care to provide clinical and operational oversight at Oakden, that the consultant psychiatrist position has been increased, and that three after-hours registered nurses have been engaged to provide additional clinical leadership after hours and on weekends.

Oakden also now employs a part-time social worker and occupational therapist to ensure residents receive comprehensive services. A nurse adviser has also commenced at Oakden to provide high-level regulatory independent advice to management. A senior clinical pharmacist has commenced, and a part-time clinical pharmacist has been employed. The director of pharmacy is also providing face-to-face orientation on the online training modules for medication management. Medication education plans have also been developed and implemented for both medical and nursing staff.

I am further advised that the chief executive is looking closely at the practices of all staff employed at the Oakden facility and that some staff have been stood down from their duties. As these staffing matters are subject to ongoing investigation, I do not intend to make further comments at this time.

I want to make it very clear that the South Australian government takes a zero tolerance approach to any allegations of substandard care toward some of our most frail and vulnerable South Australians, and I reiterate that the Chief Psychiatrist is undertaking a systemic independent review of the Oakden facility. I am advised that while the Chief Psychiatrist has decided to focus his review on 2016, he will, in his review, look at the historical practices at the Oakden facility and the circumstances that may have led to substandard care.

I also want to make it absolutely clear that the Chief Psychiatrist is an independent statutory officer and has powers under the Mental Health Act 2009 to investigate matters of concern about safety and quality as he sees fit and can also recommend, as part of his review, further investigations. I am awaiting the findings of the Chief Psychiatrist's review at the end of this month, and we will share the findings and the recommendations as well as the state government's response with the care recipients' families and staff.