THE Anglican Bishop of Newcastle has issued a public apology to the family of Pam Passlow who featured in a dramatic episode of the ABC's current affairs program, Four Corners, in 2018.
In a letter addressed to "members and supporters" of the Anglican Care community, Bishop Peter Stuart says he had met with Mrs Passlow's children "over the last few months''.
They shared their "profound disappointment" at their experience of the substance, and handling of their complaints, he said.
"They were very troubled by their experience of care and our subsequent responses when they aired their concerns," the letter says.
Mrs Passlow was a resident of Anglican Care-run nursing home Kilpatrick Court, at Toronto, between October and December, 2016. Her daughter, Deanne Morris, appeared on a two-part Four Corners program investigating aged care failings.
Mrs Morris said it seemed that some staff at the home had little experience with caring for people with dementia. "They were nice but they just didn't have that experience with people with dementia," she told Four Corners.
She said her mother was given a "cocktail" of psychotropic drugs without the family's knowledge and which changed her personality, leaving her lying curled up in bed, either sleepy or agitated.
When Mrs Passlow was moved back home, and was no longer taking the medication, she was "a different lady", her daughter said. "The system let her down, the whole system let her down," Mrs Morris said.
Bishop Stuart said Anglican Care responded publicly after the ABC report aired, but that response further upset Mrs Passlow's family. "The family have consistently challenged Anglican Care's actions and portrayal of events," Bishop Stuart said. "For a long time they did not believe that we were open to listening to their concerns."
The Aged Care and Safety Commission later said it was "very disappointed" in Anglican Care's conduct and approach.
Bishop Stuart said staff were working tirelessly to ensure compliance with aged care standards, and were "addressing our shortcomings".
"When I last met with Deanne her passion was that no one in aged care should feel unable to voice their concerns," he said. "She remained troubled that Anglican Care may not listen to its residents and clients, and their families. I stressed to her, and I stress to you, our strong desire to place the people we support and serve at the centre of our work."
The use of psychotropic drugs in aged care facilities was one of many issues which came under intense scrutiny during the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which was established in October 2018.
