Aged Care Budget: Neglect Continues
“The new spend on Aged Care in the Federal Budget is an extremely disappointing response to the Government’s own Royal Commission”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “It basically ignores the most immediate and pressing recommendations of the Royal Commission. It has dramatically increased funding but much of its promises are in the future,” said Dr Woodruff.
“The title of the interim report of the Royal Commission was starkly called ‘Nelect’. Neglect continues under a Government more interested in funding a questionable fossil fuel funded recovery of our economy than care for the neglected Aged Care sector.”
“Various estimates of the cost of addressing the Aged Care disaster range from $7-10 billion a year. This parsimonious ‘big spending’ Government has only found about $3 billion per year. “
“It has ignored its Royal Commission advice to clear the Home Care Package waiting list by 31 December 2021. This, said the Commission, should be completed by 31 December 2021 (Recommendation 39). The Government has not allocated sufficient funds to clear the waiting list, let alone to do it by 31 December 2021.”
“It has adopted increased contact hours recommended but delayed the changes from 2022 to 2023. What’s a year in the life of someone with a life expectancy of a year or two? To a neglectful Government , not much it seems.”
“Sadly the priorities are elsewhere” said Dr Woodruff. ” The neglected will remain neglected, just slightly less. Many will be dead before any significant changes occur.”
