Elderly patient ‘filthy’

Erin Pearson
A MELBOURNE hospital has apologised to a Geelong family for “disgusting” treatment of its injured elderly father.
The hospital left Ron Kenyon, 79, in clothing stained with blood and vomit for two days after a fall in Geelong last week, the family said.
St Vincent’s chief executive officer Patricia O’Rourke released a statement to the Independent saying Mr Kenyon’s treatment was being “investigated”.
Ms O’Rourke said the hospital would immediately address any “shortcomings” identified during the investigation.
“St Vincent’s takes patient care very seriously and seeks to treat all patients with compassion and dignity,” she said in the statement.
“We are investigating the care and treatment of Mr Ron Kenyon as a matter of urgency and we regret that we have not met the expectations of the family.
“Unfortunately we cannot discuss Mr Kenyon’s case further because it would breach laws relating to patient confidentiality.”
Barwon Health transferred Mr Kenyon from Geelong Hospital to St Vincent’s for treatment.
A Barwon Health spokesperson said his condition “warranted” the transfer.
Family members told Melbourne’s The Age that Mr Kenyon had suffered bleeding on the brain as well as other injuries.
Step-daughter Lisa Llewellyn said she visited her step-father at St Vincent’s to find staff had failed to wash and change him or detect his “pretty bad chest infection”.
Staff gave excuses before eventually giving Mr Kenyon an X-ray and putting him on antibiotics, she said.
“My mother pointed out yet again that he is prone to chest infections, that he’d just recovered from pneumonia. He was in the throes of a pretty damn serious chest infection.”
Ms Llewellyn said the family had lodged a formal complaint.