Oakden Mental Health Facility

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

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS: I rise today to provide the house with an update on the progress of the Oakden site. The state government has stated and we will state again that we have zero tolerance of elder abuse, and the ongoing reports of inappropriate care at Oakden demand an immediate response. As I stated yesterday, I have expedited the closure of the Makk and McLeay wards and the relocation of residents to the Northgate aged-care facility. I am taking action to ensure the ongoing safety and care of these vulnerable residents and to break down the culture of neglect and cover-up on that site.

I have asked the Chief Executive of SA Health to provide me with advice on the new staffing structure for Northgate and the plans for staff transfers and recruitment. Specifically, I have asked for advice on international best practice for recruiting staff to facilities with a similar resident profile to Oakden. In considering staff selection, I am particularly concerned to explore different screening methodologies. We are currently consulting with employee representatives, clinicians, the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and families about the move to Northgate. The Northgate aged-care facility has been identified by SA Health as the most suitable option for residents with severe BPSD.

We will be undertaking further refurbishment works at Northgate to cater for the residents currently housed at Makk and McLeay. We will gain access to the facility on Monday 22 May 2017 and will begin work immediately. I have given instructions to authorise a 24-hour roster of work if necessary to ensure the quickest possible completion. All residents at Oakden have been through a thorough and rigorous clinical assessment to determine exactly what type of care they require. As a result of this assessment, 16 residents have been recommended for relocation to Northgate and 14 have been recommended for relocation to other appropriate aged-care facilities in our state.

Consultation with families is now underway to finalise decisions about where each resident is placed. I am continuing to meet with families about their individual concerns and I am also scheduling regular monthly meetings with them. As I said on radio this morning, I requested some clinical advice about the opposition leader's call for security guards in dementia wards. The head of clinical care at Oakden, Dr Duncan McKellar, who has been providing me with clinical advice through the development of our plans at Oakden, has said, and I quote:

My concern with this suggestion is that it demonstrates a lack of understanding of the aged care sector, the nature of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and the current clinical situation at Oakden.

I am strongly of the view that a punitive or corporal approach to this aged care environment would be harmful. We need to move toward embedding cultural change which is appropriate to aged care, that is warm, person-centred, clinically diligent in order to provide positive quality of life for our vulnerable older people with complex presentations.

I appreciate the opposition providing suggestions, but this particular suggestion goes against clinical advice.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is called to order. The member for Hammond is warned, having been the recipient of a call to order in the pre-luncheon session, and the deputy leader is called to order.