November 4, 2012
Families affected by the 2014 closure of the Farrhome nursing unit in Kingaroy met with Health Department officials on Friday to discuss the timeline for the closure and future options for residents’ care.
The Queensland Nurses Union announced to a protest meeting in Brisbane yesterday that Farrhome had been earmarked for closure in 2014, however this would not have been news for families who were contacted last Thursday with the news.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) Chief Executive Dr Peter Bristow told southburnett.com.au today that the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board discussed Farrhome at its meeting on October 30.
“The Board decided that no new residents should be admitted to the Farrhome, given that the Farrhome facility would not meet the new (fire safety) standards,” he said.
These new fire safety standards will apply to residential aged care facilities such as Farrhome from September 2014.
Dr Bristow said it was always intended that the Farrhome unit would close following the opening of Forest View at Wondai.
“As most South Burnett residents know when Wondai’s Forest View Nursing Home building was completed in 2006, it was intended that the Farrhome Nursing Care Unit at Kingaroy Hospital would eventually close,” he said.
“A total of 14 residents progressively transferred from Kingaroy to Wondai between 2006 and 2009, leaving 16 nursing home beds at Farrhome.
“The Farrhome Nursing Care Unit is in a converted hospital ward and does not provide the same quality of accommodation as other local residential aged care facilities.”
Dr Bristow said new fire safety standards which apply to residential care buildings built before June 1, 2007, were introduced on September 1, 2011, with a three or five-year period before they become mandatory.
“The three-year period applies to Farrhome,” he said,
“Given recent changes to residential aged care facilities elsewhere and some local speculation about imminent closure, the Board decided to inform the residents of the September 2014 requirements.
“The Board also wanted to provide the maximum time for decision-making for current residents, families and staff.
“Between now and September 2014 the South Burnett Health Service will work with residents, their families and staff about future options for residents’ care.
“This will be a gradual process with residents and their families given as much information, help and assistance to make future decisions about their care location, including in other local nursing homes.
“The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service wants to strongly emphasise that this will not be a rushed or hurried process.
“The DDHHS Board is very respectful of residents, their families and the local community and also aware of the anxiety around recent media regarding the closure of other nursing homes in Brisbane.
“The transition period to September 2014 will be a individualised process. Consultation will continue to occur during the entire transition period.”
Dr Bristow said that on November 1 the current 13 residents, their families and Farrhome staff were contacted both verbally and by letter and invited to meet with the Executive Director Rural Health and Aged Care, Cluster Operations Manager South Burnett and Nurse Unit Manager Farrhome to discuss the Board’s decision.
“One family was unable to be contacted, as was one staff member,” Dr Bristow said.
“The Board has at all times made clear that the first priority is to inform the residents, their families and the staff.
“Eleven of the families were able to attend the meetings on November 2, 2012. Six families subsequently had a one on one meeting with the management representatives.
“Again the gradual timeline and ongoing support was emphasised in these meetings.
“No staff will be made redundant as a result of the process.
“Staff will be supported to transition to other positions in Kingaroy and the South Burnett Health Service during the period to September 2014.
“Unions will be consulted about the implementation of the process. Staff in Farrhome were also offered the opportunity of an individual meeting and a small number had a subsequent meeting with management.”
Dr Bristow said the Farrhome building would be considered as part of the capital planning process for the Kingaroy Hospital site that was recently announced by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg.
“The service would aim to provide appropriate non-admitted clinical services in the building in the future,” Dr Bristow said.
Mr Springborg is expected to visit Kingaroy Hospital as part of his trip to Kingaroy for a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said she had held discussions with the Office of the Health Minister.
She said Mr Springborg and DDHHS Board Chairman Mike Horan would be meeting with her on Tuesday in Kingaroy to discuss the Board’s decision.
“This should come as no surprise to residents of the South Burnett, given that the Farrhome was intended to close after the Wondai Forest View Nursing Home was completed in 2006,” she said.
“I understand that the biggest issue for Farrhome is that it is well below standards and will not meet 2014 fire safety standards. Anyone that has visited Farrhome is aware that it is an old converted hospital ward and it does not provide quality accommodation compared to other aged care facilities.
“I have been assured by the DDHHS Board Chair that respect for residents and their families will be at the forefront during the transition into new facilities.
“This is not going to be a rushed process – there is no need for any anxiety or media beat-ups.
“This is a positive thing for the residents of the South Burnett.
“I also know that no staff from Farrhome will lose their jobs and they will be transferred to other positions within the health service.
“I am confident that Mike Horan and the Board will approach this issue with the sensitivity that it deserves.”
- Related article: Farrhome ‘Earmarked To Close’
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FOOTNOTE November 6: It has been brought to our attention that some staff at Farrhome were upset by this article, and for this we apologise.
In a media release to southburnett.com.au, Dr Peter Briscoe stated: “The Farrhome Nursing Care Unit is in a converted hospital ward and does not provide the same quality of accommodation as other local residential aged care facilities.”
We did not take this to mean – and we don’t believe Dr Briscoe intended it to be – a reflection on the quality of care provided by the staff at Farrhome.
At all times, we believe Dr Briscoe was commenting on the building only, which as stated in the report will no longer pass mandatory fire safety standards in 2014.
