Audit to be done on nursing home where elderly were given poison pancakes

Jun 19 2008

An incident at an aged care facility where four residents consumed food tainted with diluted caustic soda has prompted calls from the Federal Government for a full audit to be carried out at the home.

The government has called for the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency to do a full audit of the Edgarley Home at Casterton in western Victoria.

Four residents at the home, three women and a man, were taken to hospital for observation after eating pancakes contaminated with caustic soda.

The caustic soda had reportedly been used to clean a burnt pan in the kitchen and two staff members have since been suspended with pay - caustic soda is apparently not approved for use in kitchens.

The four residents initially suffered throat irritation and were dealt with by first aid staff at the home then as a precaution they were taken to hospital for observation.

All are now said to be back at Edgarley and none have suffered any further health problems.

The home immediately reported the incident to the federal Department of Health and Ageing, the Victorian Police and WorkSafe.

The Federal Minister for the Ageing, Justine Elliot, says the incident was a stupid and unacceptable situation.

The Minister says Victorian Police have investigated the incident and charges are not expected to be laid.

Aged and Community Care's chief executive, Gerard Mansour, says the incident is regrettable, but is a unique, isolated case.

Mansour says there are always isolated cases and any system, no matter how well designed, occasionally breaks down and Edgarley is improving the way it handles chemicals and is reviewing and auditing their food safety plans, as well as looking at the systems and procedures operating in the kitchen.

The facility has already begun implementing recommendations made by WorkSafe aimed at strengthening its chemical handling procedures and all staff are expected to soon receive further training.