The aged care regulator has threatened to revoke the licence of the facility at St Basils Home for the Aged in Fawkner, as the facility is at the centre of one of Victoria’s largest COVID-19 clusters.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has issued St Basil’s Fawkner with a Notice to Agree, citing concerns about the serious impact of the outbreak on the residents and staff, and the aged care centre’s handling of it.
Under the notice, the home in Fawkner must not admit any new residents until it can demonstrate to the Commission’s satisfaction the “serious risk” to residents has been effectively addressed.
It must also appoint an independent adviser until St Basil’s Fawkner is declared free of all positive cases of COVID-19 and is declared safe by the Victorian Government’s Public Health Unit.
At the home, nine residents have already died and coronavirus cases linked to the facility jumped from 78 to 84 on Monday, making it Victoria’s largest aged care outbreak.
This morning, Victorian health authorities said a total of 79 residents have been moved from the home, while around 36 residents have stayed.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told ABC News Breakfast the staff at the facility were being led by an experienced nurse.
“Our role is to make sure that those remaining residents are safe, and the advice that I had as of late last night and early this morning is that the conditions are stable,” Mr Hunt said.
Notices from the aged care regular have also been issued to Menarock Essendon Aged Care and Estia Health in Heidelberg, where outbreaks including more than 50 people have occurred.
