The Malinauskas Labor Government will review South Australia’s Transition to Home (T2H) service for NDIS participants discharged from hospital but unable to return home immediately.
Minister for Human Services Nat Cook has instigated the review following a recent report by the Health and Consumer Complaints Commissioner which found, under the former government, participant “Mr D” suffered serious neglect at the Hampstead site.
T2H – which continues to operate at the former Repat Hospital and at St Margaret’s Centre in Semaphore – will be examined to ensure its processes and staffing can ensure the highest quality care and safety for people with disability.
The review will be carried out by Associate Professor Christine Dennis, Deputy Dean Rural and Remote Health SA, Flinders University and previous Chief Executive of the Australian Council on Health Care Standards and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.
T2H clients, their families or guardians, and staff will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the review, which will identify and make recommendations on how any gaps or systemic issues can be addressed.
Quotes
Attributable to Minister for Human Services Nat Cook
As the Minister for Human Services and a Registered Nurse, I have questions about how this model of care is operating and I know that many in the community share my concern.
This review will be open and transparent – we are not a government that ducks and runs when issues of people’s health and safety are raised.
The former Minister did not want to be held to account for what happened to Mr D under her watch, but I will ensure this service meets community expectations in terms of quality standards and duty of care.
I acknowledge comments from many advocates that T2H would not be required at all if the NDIS was meeting expectations in terms of timely modifications and appropriate supports in people’s own homes – this is something I intend to keep pressuring the federal government to address, noting Federal Labor’s commitment earlier this week to massively increase resourcing to the NDIS if elected.
I also want to acknowledge there are some very dedicated and skilled staff in disability support roles, and I have great respect for the work they do.
Background
Established in March 2020, T2H aims to support people living with a disability – who do not need acute medical care – to discharge from hospital and into more “home-like” transitional accommodation before suitable long-term housing becomes available.
It is not a hospital setting and does not provide nursing or medical care but facilitates external medical care through a participant’s NDIS plan. The review will examine whether that is the right model for this service.
The service was recently investigated by the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC), which found numerous and serious failings in the care of “Mr D”.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has since apologised to Mr D and his family and has accepted and adopted all the Commissioner’s recommendations.
T2H currently supports about 40 people across two sites at the Daw Park Repatriation Health Precinct and St Margaret’s Centre in Semaphore.
Many of the people being supported are waiting on the NDIS to complete home modifications or approve appropriate home support packages.
