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Nursing Home Patient Mauled by Mice
KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer
May 01, 2009
SYDNEY – A pack of mice mauled a bedridden 89-year-old man at an Australian nursing home, shredding parts of his ears and prompting the government Thursday to launch an investigation into the facility.
Federal Minister for Aging Justine Elliot ordered a probe into what the government-run nursing home in Queensland state was doing to protect residents, saying in a statement that the attack was “extremely disturbing and traumatic for residents and their families.”
Ray Hopper, a state opposition legislator who was alerted to the mauling by the man’s family earlier this week, said the resident was found covered in blood by nursing staff Saturday.
“An elderly, bedridden gentleman had the tops of his ears severely chewed, his head badly bitten and a very bad wound in the throat,” Hopper said. “His hands were covered in blood when they found him; he’d obviously been so distressed trying to get the mice away.”
Hopper accused health officials of being slow to respond to an out-of-control mouse infestation at Dalby Hospital, where Karingal Nursing Home is located.
“It is the most disgusting, horrific thing,” Hopper said. “There wasn’t a wall of mice suddenly hitting the place — this has been building up for three weeks. They had plenty of time to act.”
Pam Lane, a Queensland state government health officer, confirmed that two residents had been treated for mouse bites at the home and called the attacks “unfortunate.”
nlmorrow
6 months ago
2 comments
I am outraged at the excuse of the hospital. Unfortunate! That is when you trip and fall. This is far above that level. My Mother has been in several hospitals and nursing homes in the United States and I thought some of them were bad. But, this takes the prize. I hope this man never has to pay a bill the rest of his life!
So tell the nurses to get their guns and start target practice during their smoke breaks. BB guns work pretty good, too! I would not even work there if it were that bad, so what are they doing to solve the problem?
Nancy in Texas
mylene77
6 months ago
10986 comments
this is a terrible experience!II
donz
6 months ago
22 comments
It is interesting how the blame gets pushed around...The nurses should have been outside picketing and calling on the legistlature before it got to the degree it did! The nurses could have also put out traps of their own---if they cared....I do not consider Red Tape to bind their hands an excuse for not doing the basic care of their patients!!!! I apologize if they did do the above ideas to help their patients...if not they should all be fired and licenses taken away!
gracy03
6 months ago
26 comments
OMG, knowing that they are so strict of aged care certificate?? and they could not simply keep their facility clean and safe is so disgusting......they should be taken out of license to operate.
kjagnew1
6 months ago
128 comments
OMG!!! How did they let this problem get so out of hand that mice are attacking patients! As if nursing homes period didnt already have a negative stigma behind it, here we are with this story. I hope the investigation is successful and this place is shut down! Even if they do get it together and clean it up, who would EVER want to live there again?! I know I wouldnt. I do sincerely hope that the poor attacked man is ok and can get through the trauma.
lisal
6 months ago
2 comments
Its terrible that this has happened. I wonder if since the media was so quick to jump on the 'negative' if they will actually go back and see what the facility is putting place to prevent this from happening again. I doubt it. It seems no one is interested in anything positive coming out of such a horrible occurrence all anyone seems to be interested in is crucifying the facility. I guess truth really is dead in society. Anything that generates division, negativity and the blame game seems to win every time. I hope the media is quite pleased with themselves as well as the politicians who OMG all of a sudden decide to show interest in the healthcare system, it seems to be the only time the act on anything, But I wonder if they are considering the impact it is not only having on the family and the victim but also the staff of the facility. What a sad commentary on society. I wonder how people would react if they were the ones involved, if the tables were turned. What kind of comments would be seen then.
wmiles
6 months ago
4 comments
Please be assured, this is a very unusual and horrifying occurrance down here in Australia. Thank goodness!! The only good thing about it is that it keeps nursing homes on everyone's radar so the elderly are not the forgotten people! Not much consolation for the gentleman and his family I know. How awful....
restless_lpn
6 months ago
4 comments
DAMN
ChristinaMoran
6 months ago
32 comments
It absolutely amazes me what people will turn their backs on. Everyone in administration (at the very minimum) should be brought up on charges and lose their rights to practice
arimner
6 months ago
14 comments
omg that is the most horrific thing i have ever heard. What is the world coming to.
blackmon44
6 months ago
44 comments
Close the sucker down !
Tolulope
6 months ago
184 comments
Unbelievable as it may seem or sound, but it does happen.
Although unfortunate but the nursing home management have to be pro-active in order to prevent re-occurence.
The patient should please accept all form of apologies.
lizmags
6 months ago
42 comments
Repulsive healthcare at its best ...
feliciaann
6 months ago
84 comments
Oh my God! That is so disturbing! Incapacitated and needing to ward off mice who are chewing on your flesh!!!??? Thats insane, like some sort of horror flick. That made my stomach flip.
jackieokurut
6 months ago
2 comments
this is a nightmare.it is a shame on the government.i really feel bad for the man and the residents in that
facility.i hope he gets justice.i dont know how the people working in that home can sleep at night knowing
they let such a horrible thing happen to an elderly person entrusted in their care.