In notes from calls to the union, seen by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, workers say the use of masks and gloves had remained optional in recent days and an obviously sick patient was not isolated despite constant coughing and sneezing.
"Management gave us full protective equipment this week," one St Basil’s worker said. "Even as of Sunday, after they knew COVID was an issue, masks and gloves weren’t taken seriously. It was up to workers whether they wanted to wear it or not. It wasn’t enforced."
In another call logged by the union, a St Basil’s worker said a resident had been "coughing and sneezing all over the place" before being taken to hospital last week. "He was not isolated."
All staff were ordered to vacate St Basil’s on Wednesday and they will not be allowed to return until July 30, after isolating and testing negative to the coronavirus.
Confirming the appointment of Aspen Medical, which helped containthe Newmarch House aged care cluster that killed at least 17 people, Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said: "The replacement facility manager and clinical co-ordinator are working with the two on-site expert clinical first responders from health provider Aspen Medical to arrange for orientation and induction of all staff at the beginning of each shift in infection control protocol and PPE use."
Mr Colbeck said this was to ensure there was no ongoing transmission.
Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar said the union was told PPE was enforced strictly only in the past few days, since the COVID-19 outbreak came to light.
"That’s too late," she said. "St Basil’s is a shocking development but not unexpected. The risk for our aged care workers and residents is very real."
However, Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan said she saw only excellent standards in the facility.
"When I arrived there yesterday morning everyone was wearing appropriate PPE and doing it as per requirements," she said.
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St Basil’s Homes for the Aged did not respond to emailed questions before deadline. Its board chairman Konstantin Kontis said it communicated through written statements only and asked this masthead to send all emails to the home and its manager.
In a letter to staff seen by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Kontis said St Basil’s would continue to pay staff ex-gratia special COVID-19 leave for their rostered hours at ordinary pay rates.
"I feel that this is the least we can do to support you and your families at these difficult and stressful times," the letter said.
Ms Asmar said state and federal governments had not been proactive on the issue of PPE for staff in aged care homes. "We are now seeing the effect of that failure."
She called on WorkSafe inspectors to conduct spot checks on private providers.
"It’s in these sorts of facilities where a lot of these COVID deaths will come from if we leave them unchecked," she said.
Marie Albanese said her 92-year-old father Chris Vaggos, who has lived at St Basil’s for two years, had been telling staff since March 18 that they would bring the virus in because they were not wearing the appropriate attire.
Ms Albanese said she had repeatedly asked to see her father's COVID-19 test results, but was yet to see them.
“The staff were very secretive and wouldn't answer any phone calls," Ms Albanese said.
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She said no one contacted her about the federal intervention at St Basil’s and she first read about it in The Age.
"Wednesday, when the takeover was happening, I went down first thing in the morning and again I got the runaround. It's unbelievable,” she said.
Mr Colbeck said families should be assured the Federal Government was working closely with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Victorian government Public Health Unit and the Department of Health to manage the situation.
He said a dedicated communications unit would begin calling residents' families on Thursday to ensure they had access to the information they needed.
A Health Department spokesman said it was working with the Commonwealth and all aged care providers "to ensure all residents are receiving the very best care during the coronavirus pandemic".
The department said St Basil’s was not the first case in which the federal government had stepped in, with similar action taken last week at Menarock Life Aged Care in Essendon, where there are 55 COVID-19 cases.
There are 447 active cases of COVID-19 linked to 35 aged care facilities across the state.
As of Thursday key outbreaks at aged care facilities included 67 cases linked to Estia Health in Ardeer, 34 cases linked to Estia Health in Heidelberg, 33 cases linked to Arcare Aged Care in Craigieburn, 21 cases linked to Baptcare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee, and 20 cases linked to Embracia Aged Care Moonee Valley in Avondale Heights.
Jewel Topsfield is Melbourne Editor of The Age.
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2020-07-23 13:30:00Z
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