Aged care staff threw a PARTY at a Melbourne nursing home with every attendee later testing positive to coronavirus - after a desperate old woman struggled out of bed to raise the alarm
- Epping Gardens Aged Care home is at the centre of one of the worst outbreaks
- At least 20 residents have died after contracting the deadly coronavirus
- The facility has also seen about 205 residents and staff are infected with illness
- Days before the first case emerged six staff were caught throwing a party on site
Staff at one of Melbourne's worst hit nursing homes secretly a threw party just days before the deadly coronavirus spread through the facility, infecting 205 residents and staff.
Six employees at Melbourne's Epping Gardens Aged Care home were caught attending the unauthorised baby shower in July.
Maureen O'Brien, a resident at the home, had hauled herself out of bed looking for a nurse when she stumbled upon the gathering.
Her calls for help had gone unanswered and she was in need of Panadol, her daughter Donna O'Brien told Four Corners.
Medical workers evacuate a resident from the Epping Gardens aged care facility in the Melbourne suburb of Epping on July 30 (pictured)
Epping Gardens Aged Care home (pictured) is at the centre of one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks
'She was told off quite severely … but my mum wanted to know, ''Why are all these people here. What's going on?'' She thought it was a get-together.'
Four days later the first two COVID-19 cases emerged - one was a staff member, the other was a resident.
The deadly virus quickly spread throughout the facility, with all six staff who attended the party infected.
At least 20 residents have died after contracting the virus and 205 residents and staff were infected - making it Melbourne's worst outbreak in aged care.
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Greg Reeve, CEO of Heritage Care which manages the facility, said the party had been arranged by one of the more senior registered nurses.
'It was unauthorised, breached protocols,' he said.
'I can speak not only as CEO but as a registered nurse. I think the lack of regard they have shown is something that is beyond the pale.'
The six staff members have been stood down, he said.
Mr Reeve said he did not know if the party was responsible for the outbreak.
Medical workers evacuate a resident from the Epping Gardens aged care facility in the Melbourne suburb of Epping on July 30 (pictured)
Health care workers are seen outside the Epping Gardens Aged Care Home on July 29 (pictured)
About 30 families have launched group action against the facility.
Last month, the care home was left with almost no staff at 11pm one night because they were forced into isolation.
Lawyer Tony Carbone alleged there were cases where people weren't fed.
Australia has suffered 421 deaths during the pandemic, many of which are related to aged care.
Last week Scott Morrison apologised to families who have lost loved ones in aged care during the coronavirus pandemic.
The prime minster admitted that the federal government response has 'fallen short' at times.
'On the days that the system falls short, on the days that expectations are not met, I'm deeply sorry about that, of course I am,' he said.
Two workers wearing PPE are seen pulling clinical waste bins at the Epping Gardens aged care home on July 30 (pictured)
A staff member is seen inside the Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility amid the second wave of the coronavirus (pictured)
'And I know that everyone who is involved in the process who is trying to meet those expectations is equally sorry.'
A Royal Commission into Age Care has heard that the government had 'no plan' for for the sector to deal with the pandemic.
Mr Morrison said that was not true.
'There has been a plan and it has been updated and so we completely reject the assertion that there was not a plan because there was a plan,' he said.
'Every day every effort is being made and on those days that we fall short, we're sorry, and the next day we get up and we seek to make it right the next day.'
