4 years ago
TRAGEDIES IN VICTORIAN NURSING HOMES
Julie Collins MP
Scott Morrison failed to progress key reports that could have prevented the disastrous and tragic events that have unfolded in Victoria’s nursing homes.
On Wednesday Scott Morrison said the complete withdrawal of a workforce at an aged care facility that has led to such tragic circumstances in Victoria could not have been ‘anticipated or foreshadowed’.
But it did happen - just a year ago at the Earle Haven nursing home on the Gold Coast.
What’s worse, the Morrison Government had a report they commissioned on how to manage this very situation which it has failed to implement despite accepting the report’s recommendations.
“The Department of Health should develop a response plan for emerging situations where there is risk of an imminent collapse in the provision of aged care services (the plan). The plan should include provision for rapid access to resources to assist in stabilising service provision. The plan should be communicated to all aged care providers to encourage early notification to the Commonwealth and to state/ territory governments.”
· RECOMMENDATION 21, INQUIRY INTO EVENTS AT EARLE HAVEN, OCTOBER 2019
A separate report the Morrison Government has had for more than two years on building the aged care workforce that could have helped prevent tragedies in Victoria has also been ignored.
The lack of action has been slammed by the very person the Morrison Government commissioned to write this report.
“They have known about these issues … There's plenty of reports that have told them, but they have ducked it. It wasn't really until the Royal Commission in November, it really became very clear that the Government has made no progress. They've sat on the report.”
· PROFESSOR JOHN POLLAERS, THE HERALD SUN, 31 JULY 2020
The Prime Minister’s failure to progress these reports is shocking and tragic. The Prime Minister must accept responsibility for this failure.
The growing list of Morrison Government failures in preparing for COVID-19 in aged care and responding to outbreaks is deeply concerning.
We have seen the devastating impact of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care in Australia and across the globe.
Why was the Morrison Government not better prepared for outbreaks that would impact our nation’s most vulnerable?
Australia’s aged care system was broken before the COVID-19 pandemic and this is only putting extra stress on the system.
On Wednesday Scott Morrison said the complete withdrawal of a workforce at an aged care facility that has led to such tragic circumstances in Victoria could not have been ‘anticipated or foreshadowed’.
But it did happen - just a year ago at the Earle Haven nursing home on the Gold Coast.
What’s worse, the Morrison Government had a report they commissioned on how to manage this very situation which it has failed to implement despite accepting the report’s recommendations.
“The Department of Health should develop a response plan for emerging situations where there is risk of an imminent collapse in the provision of aged care services (the plan). The plan should include provision for rapid access to resources to assist in stabilising service provision. The plan should be communicated to all aged care providers to encourage early notification to the Commonwealth and to state/ territory governments.”
· RECOMMENDATION 21, INQUIRY INTO EVENTS AT EARLE HAVEN, OCTOBER 2019
A separate report the Morrison Government has had for more than two years on building the aged care workforce that could have helped prevent tragedies in Victoria has also been ignored.
The lack of action has been slammed by the very person the Morrison Government commissioned to write this report.
“They have known about these issues … There's plenty of reports that have told them, but they have ducked it. It wasn't really until the Royal Commission in November, it really became very clear that the Government has made no progress. They've sat on the report.”
· PROFESSOR JOHN POLLAERS, THE HERALD SUN, 31 JULY 2020
The Prime Minister’s failure to progress these reports is shocking and tragic. The Prime Minister must accept responsibility for this failure.
The growing list of Morrison Government failures in preparing for COVID-19 in aged care and responding to outbreaks is deeply concerning.
We have seen the devastating impact of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care in Australia and across the globe.
Why was the Morrison Government not better prepared for outbreaks that would impact our nation’s most vulnerable?
Australia’s aged care system was broken before the COVID-19 pandemic and this is only putting extra stress on the system.