AN AGED care nurse who failed to report a 93-year-old woman's fall, leaving her untreated for days with a broken hip and later lying about it, says he feels ashamed. Login or signup to continue reading The woman's injury, which occurred on a Friday, was not identified and treated until the Monday morning at which point she required hospitalisation. Care staff noticed she was experiencing pain, and that there were changes in her mobility, with her left leg shortened and rotated inwards.
A review of CCTV footage showed her lying on the floor of the corridor to the dementia ward in Australian Unity-owned nursing home at 11.52pm on Friday, October 29, 2022. She was considered to have a high risk of falls due to her dementia diagnosis and her recent history of falls.
Calvin Dianco Morato, who trained as a nurse in the Phillippines and worked there and in New Zealand before coming to work in Australia, had worked at the facility since April, 2019. On the night in question he felt unwell, he told the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), and called an hour before his 9.30pm shift started to see if he could be replaced.
However, he did go to work and told NCAT he went because it was difficult for replacement staff to be allocated and he felt he was able to work his shift. There were 120 residents in the facility, and 70 in the village with only one nurse on duty, he said during a hearing in April. An internal investigation by Australian Unity found he failed to complete any r.