NSW: Two home for disabled under investigation after deaths

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-1998
NSW: Two home for disabled under investigation after deaths

SYDNEY, Dec 19 AAP - Two homes for severely disabled children in Sydney's west are
reportedly being investigated by three agencies over allegations ranging from financial
mismanagement and understaffing to inadequate diet and overmedication.

Agency documents revealed the Child Death Review Team was investigating the deaths of two
children in July at one of the homes, Mannix Children's Centre at Liverpool, The Sydney
Morning Herald reported today.

The other institution being investigated was Whitehall Children's Home at Revesby, the
paper said.

Recent investigations have also been launched by the Community Services Commission and the
Department of Ageing and Disability.

Both home are privately owned by the Intellectually and Physically Handicapped Children's
Association of NSW but funded by the state government.

The chief executive of both homes, Geoff May, denied they were understaffed, the paper
said.

He said the association was providing the best possible care with the funding available.

The residents' diets were appropriate and regularly referred to a dietician, he said.

AAP rat/cfm

KEYWORD: DISABLED

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.