Coroner Finds Preventable Failures in 2020 COVID-19 Deaths at Sydney Aged Care Home

An inquest into Newmarch House revealed leadership failures, inadequate care, and missed opportunities to transfer residents to hospitals during a deadly outbreak.

• The inquest determined that some of the 19 COVID-19 deaths at Newmarch House in 2020 could have been prevented with better care and decision-making.
• Anglicare, which operates the facility, faced criticism for poor leadership, staff shortages, and insufficient communication with families during the outbreak.
• The decision to treat infected residents onsite under the 'Hospital in the Home' program, rather than transferring them to hospitals, was deemed inappropriate and inconsistent with infectious disease protocols.
• Failures included inadequate infection control, missed medications, and delays in meeting residents' basic care needs, as well as insufficient testing and reporting of COVID-19 cases.
• A class action brought by relatives of deceased residents reached a confidential settlement in November 2024, and Anglicare has since implemented policy improvements.

3 Articles

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Guardian 9News