ABC traces Newmarch House outbreak with interactive timeline – and calls for more ‘bad news’ stories
The broadcaster has developed an interactive 40-day timeline following the events covered in the program which you can see here
If you missed the Four Corners’ investigation of the outbreak at the Western Sydney home on Monday night, this is an excellent way to catch up. The broadcaster has developed an interactive 40-day timeline following the events covered in the program which you can see here. Titled ‘No way in, no way out’, it records the number of resident and staff infections and resident deaths as the outbreak unfolded and the response of Anglicare, NSW Health and the regulator which we reported on here. The story also records more detail about a disturbing incident that was not covered in the TV program including the case of a female resident who had tested positive for COVID-19 and was asked to fill out an end-of-life plan. The family alleges that the woman was repeatedly asked by the carer whether she wanted to be “burned or buried” – with a handwritten note on the plan saying that she “would like to be burned” even though the woman specified she wanted to be buried. The family says they received an apology from Anglicare CEO Grant Millard who said it was “distressing and completely unacceptable” and that he would investigate, but heard nothing further. The story concludes with yet another call out from the national broadcaster to the community for their aged care ‘horror stories’. “Are you worried about aged care in Australia?” it reads. “The aged care royal commission continues and so does our investigation. Let us know if you have a story or issue, you’d like the ABC to look into. Email aged.care@abc.net.au to tell us your story.” Watch this space then.
