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Inquest begins into 19 aged-care deaths during 2020 COVID outbreak
This week marks the beginning of the inquest into deaths of 19 aged-care residents at Anglicare’s Newmarch House facility in April 2020.
Jess Feyder
The deadly outbreak of COVID-19 at Newmarch House led to the deaths of 19 residents, provoking calls that the facility was negligent in its handling of the outbreak and breached its duty of care.
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The aged-care home was locked down on 14 April, but by 16 April, nine residents and six staff had contracted the virus. Less than six weeks later, 34 staff and 37 residents had contracted COVID-19, and 19 people had died.
The outbreak began when an employee tested positive for COVID-19 but continued working for six days with symptoms before being isolated.
Shine Lawyers associate Emily Clarke is running the class action for surviving relatives of the deceased.
“It has taken two years for an inquest into the tragic deaths of aged care residents at Newmarch House,” said Ms Clarke. “At the time, it was one of the worst outbreaks in the state at the start of the pandemic in NSW in 2020.
“Shine Lawyers has always held that Anglicare was ill-equipped to handle the outbreak of coronavirus at the facility and as a result, we will be seeking compensation on behalf of the families of the deceased.
“Two years on and there are still many questions about processes, staff ratios, qualifications and whether or not staff at the facility were trained well enough to make critical decisions to save lives.”
The inquest will investigate several issues:
- Whether the emergency response was appropriate;
- If the leadership, management and communication from staff to family members were appropriate;
- If there was an infection prevention procedure and management of appropriate medication;
- Whether the treatment and management of the residents were appropriate in the circumstances;
- Whether the deaths could have been prevented.
“This week, we’ll hear from grieving relatives of the deceased who want to know why their loved ones weren’t immediately taken to hospital after testing positive so they could receive the critical care they needed to potentially save their lives,” said Ms Clarke.
“We are entering a second phase of yet another outbreak and the aged care sector cannot afford to make the same mistakes.
“We extend our support to all of the families grieving the deaths of their loved ones and we stand with them this week as they relive their trauma so others can learn from some grave mistakes.”
