'A positive step': NSW Premier backs action against Newmarch House
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has welcomed the aged care watchdog putting the operator of the Newmarch House nursing home on notice, as another two staff members at the facility tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday.
The aged care regulator told Anglicare late Wednesday to agree in writing to steps including the appointment of an independent adviser, or face having its licence revoked.
The NSW coronavirus epicentre: Newmarch House in western Sydney.Credit:Kate Geraghty
Ms Berejiklian said health experts have advised her of "a number of issues that have to be considered in relation to the safety of residents" at Newmarch House, and said she was "relieved" that the regulator had stepped in.
"The federal regulator has now put them on notice to say if you don’t do x, y and z, we might revoke your licence. I think that’s a positive step," she said.
Anglicare on Thursday morning released a statement committing to appoint an independent adviser, which was one of three conditions placed on it by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Anglicare must also agree in writing by the end of Thursday to follow that expert's advice, and not to admit any new residents to Newmarch until it can demonstrate "that the serious risk to care recipients at the service has been effectively addressed".
The action comes as another two staff members at the aged care facility in western Sydney tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections to 68, with 31 staff and 37 residents diagnosed. Sixteen residents have died at the facility.
In its statement, Anglicare said it would appoint an external adviser on Thursday for a period of three months.
"Anglicare Sydney is confident with the support of the adviser and the Commission issues at Newmarch House will be resolved expeditiously," the statement said.
"Residents and families can be assured that this will mean we will have additional expertise to support us during this extremely difficult time."
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant told a parliamentary committee hearing into the government's handling of COVID-19 that the 14-day incubation period of the virus presented "challenges" for infection control.
"You do not know who is incubating the disease, and who will over that 14 days develop symptoms," Dr Chant said.
Despite the fact that aged care is the remit of the federal government, Dr Chant said NSW Health has been providing assistance to Newmarch in a number of ways and that there have been "pleasingly few" new cases among residents amid improved infection control.
She said an infectious disease clinician, who had assisted during the Dorothy Henderson Lodge outbreak, began working with Newmarch House the day after the first case was diagnosed.
Dr Chant said residents were being swabbed every three days on average, and staff were also being regularly swabbed before shifts, as NSW Health worked to trace everyone who had been in contact with the facility's first case across the six shifts she worked.