By Brendan Rees
A male nurse from Cranbourne West has been stood down from Alfred Health after allegedly mistreating a patient with cerebral palsy at Caulfield Hospital last month.
Investigators have been told a 33-year-old Caulfield man was allegedly assaulted at the Kooyong Road Hospital on 22 January.
A 30-year-old Cranbourne West man was interviewed by police and released pending further enquiries.
Alfred Health which manages the hospital said they were made aware of the incident last week and had “serious concerns” about the care of the patient.
Alfred Health released a statement saying the staff member involved had been stood down, and no longer works for Alfred Health.
“Following discussion with the patient’s family, we immediately notified Victoria Police and started an internal investigation,” the statement said.
“The video material presented to us by the family is distressing and shocking – and not in keeping with the culture of advanced care patients and families should experience in our hospitals.”
Alfred Health said they were continuing to meet with the patient’s family and thanked them for bringing the issue to their attention.
Alfred Health is cooperating with the police investigation.
City of Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon condemned the staff’s behaviour, labelling the incident “absolutely appalling.”
“I think it’s the worst of abuses to take advantage of someone so vulnerable.”
“I think it’s getting exposed because we are able to install cameras now and there’s a lot more visibility.”
Cr Stapledon said in August 2014 Casey Council pushed for a Royal Commission to investigate the abuse and neglect of people in disability care.
She said she would seek an update into the Royal Commission at Council’s next meeting.
An overarching legislation, she says, should be made nation-wide that penalises those that neglect or abuse patients in their care.
“It is in the minority because carers genuinely are fantastic – they’re just unsung heroes. But for those very few that do abuse – they absolutely violate such a trusted situation.”
Cr Stapledon said there was an incident where her son Heath, who has a disability, was treated with little regard by carers.
“He went into respite one time and wasn’t feed properly when I questioned them over it they said feeding him was like feeding a rattle snake. It’s just appalling.”
Founder of the Forget me Not Foundation and Casey resident, Janine Greening who has been an advocate for victims of crime since 2005, says she was disgusted by the act at Caulfield Hospital and called for more training of staff working with disabled people.
“Vulnerable people should be protected in the health system. Who’s going to protect them if they have no rights?”
