Ms MACKLIN (9:40 AM) —I would like to talk about a very serious matter taking place in my electorate with respect to the Kenilworth Nursing Home. Unfortunately, reports dating back to June 1999 have outlined serious risk to the health of residents of this nursing home. Following on from the events at Riverside, such concerns should have been dealt with much more quickly than has been the case.

I have seen the most recent audit report from the agency which has been looking into the care of residents at Kenilworth. Unfortunately, there are problems in a whole range of areas, including clinical care, medication management, pain management, hydration and nutrition, and skin care, particularly stopping bedsores. Too many of the residents have been restrained, both chemically and physically. One resident was seen to have been kept in a bed for two days while the audit team was there, with the bars pulled up on the side of the bed. The fire and emergency services are not adequate.

I mention one particular case that is of great concern that shows dramatically what is going on in this nursing home. A resident who fell out of bed was documented as having pain for six days prior to being transferred to hospital for treatment for a broken leg. Analgesia is recorded as having been given three times within the six days, while this resident was kept in the nursing home without being sent to a hospital, which is what should have happened.

This government has had report after report about this nursing home, and people are still living in this nursing home with their health at risk. It is not good enough. An administrator or a nursing adviser should have been placed in this nursing home a long time ago. The government should act now, put in an administrator and get this place cleaned up so that, at least for the residents that remain, there can be a much higher standard of nursing home care. What has happened to the residents of this nursing home is an absolute disgrace. It has occurred because of the inaction of this government; it should get in there and clean up what is a very serious problem relating to the standard of health care being given to the residents of Kenilworth Nursing Home.