An aged care nurse in Melbourne has received a temporary suspension for his role in a baby shower held during strict Covid-19 lockdowns, an event that has continued to cast a shadow over his career.
Denis Baniqued, a registered nurse at Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility, expressed deep regret for his failure to prevent or report the gathering, which breached lockdown restrictions in July 2020.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found that while Mr. Baniqued did not plan the event, he should have taken steps to stop it. Staff at the facility had organised a surprise baby shower for Mr. Baniqued and his wife, who also worked as a carer at the facility.
Although Mr. Baniqued was unaware of the event in advance and only attended briefly, he acknowledged in a statement to the Tribunal that he should have dispersed the group, ensured that unauthorised attendees left the premises, and reported the gathering to management.
Shortly after the event, several attendees, including Mr. Baniqued, tested positive for Covid-19. This coincided with a deadly outbreak at the facility, which saw 103 of the 119 residents infected, with 38 ultimately losing their lives, alongside 86 infected staff members.
Although the outbreak’s precise origins were never definitively traced back to the baby shower, the incident has been linked to a lapse in adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
Mr. Baniqued has since expressed his profound regret, stating that he lives with remorse over his failure to act decisively. “I have not once forgotten this mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life,” he said, reflecting on the trust families placed in him and the lasting impact on residents and staff.
He continued, “Witnessing the devastation caused to everyone involved fills me with sympathy and regret for not having done more.”
While the Tribunal acknowledged his remorse and admission of responsibility, it ruled that his inaction constituted professional misconduct.
As a result, Mr. Baniqued has been suspended from practising for one month and will be required to complete further training on incident reporting and leadership to reinforce the importance of decisive action in safeguarding patient well-being.
