 Home Media Resources HSU Calls For Action over Coroner's Report - April 27 2004
HSU Calls For Action over Coroner's Report - April 27 2004
The Health Services Union has called for immediate action to improve fire safety in nursing homes across Australia after a NSW Coroner exposed flaws in the current system during an inquest into the death of a resident.
The HSU's national secretary Craig Thomson said that the federal government should adopt as a matter of urgency the recommendations of the Deputy State Coroner Carl Milovanovich made during the inquest into the death of Essie Lewis during a fire in the Heiden Park Lodge Nursing Home in NSW in January last year.
Mr Milovanovich said the requirement for periodic assessment of aged care facilities in the current federal legislation only paid "lip service to responsible fire risk assessment" and even proposed changes did not go far enough.
"The system of contracting the assessment out to private companies was more designed to meet accreditation and funding issues rather than seriously addressing the fire risk assessment," he said in his report.
Mr Milovanovich recommended that local councils be given responsibility for ensuring homes complied with proper fire standards and mandatory reporting to them of any changes in fire-fighting equipment and building structures.
HSU national secretary Craig Thomson said: "The union supports the coroner's recommendations and calls on the federal government to implement them immediately
"Fire safety is just one of a number of areas where the safety of residents and staff is jeopardised because of the lack of proper scrutiny of aged care facilities.
"It is not just about how the buildings are checked. There is no set fire training program for staff and it can be years between visits by inspectors to check equipment.
"Almost any facility you visit will have a different approach to fire safety.
"Any fire danger in a nursing home is made far worse due to the massive understaffing in the industry. If you have one person left alone at night with 50 residents, which is not uncommon, how are they going to get everyone out if there is a fire?
"Lives are being put at risk by understaffing."
Further information is available by phoning Craig Thomson on 0419498691 or Mark Robinson on 0439 411774
Contact Details
Mark Robinson
Ph: 0439411774
hsu@hsu.net.au
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