The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has criticised the treatment provided to an elderly man by a rest home in Oxford, during his admission for hospital-level care.

The man, aged in his eighties was a resident at Ultimate Care Karadean Court.

He was admitted six years prior to the incidents.

The report said he had suspected parotid gland obstruction and was prescribed a course of antibiotics.

After two unsuccessful attempts to administer antibiotics, he was transferred to hospital, where he died as a result of septicaemia and facial cellulitis.

During his residency, the report said his health deteriorated while at Ultimate Care Karadean, and he required interventions to manage his continence, hydration, medication, diabetes, podiatry, pressure areas, and pain.

The report said “overall, there was a lack of attention and responsiveness to his condition by multiple staff, and a lack of oversight by the clinical managers.”

Deputy Commissioner Rose Wall was critical that Ultimate Care Group:

Did not review the man’s continence care accurately; did not arrange podiatry reviews; did not monitor the man’s diabetes adequately; did not manage the man’s pain relief adequately; did not obtain an air-relieving mattress; did not record the man’s wound care documentation accurately; did not monitor the man’s pressure wounds adequately or seek specialist advice in a timely manner; did not reflect the man’s health status accurately in documentation; did not manage his faecal incontinence, ankle and sacral pressure areas, and pain and redness of his scrotal area adequately; did not have sufficient registered nurses available to provide oversight to junior staff; and did not ensure adequate leadership over staff. 

The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has ordered the rest home to provide a formal written apology to the man’s family.