A scathing report into the Commonwealth Government’s management of the aged care sector by the Aged Care Royal Commission has confirmed the need for staff to resident ratios and more transparency of the industry.
The Palaszczuk Government has reaffirmed its commitment to older Queenslanders and their families with nation leading reforms currently before the Queensland Parliament.
Health Minister Steven Miles said the Palaszczuk Government had already acted to make the sector more accountable where the Federal Government refused.
“The harrowing stories uncovered by the Royal Commission are a national disgrace. The For-Profit Industry players and the Morrison Government have both failed to understand the gravity of the crisis in aged care or its human toll.
“When I highlighted just some of these stories, the Queensland LNP sided with their donors in industry and their party bosses in Canberra,” Mr Miles said.
“I hope they can now at least put older Queenslanders first.
“We have to stop providers dumping the frail and elderly in emergency departments. We have to get people out of hospital when they don’t need to be there. We have to put nursing back in to nursing homes, and care back in to aged care.
“We must, must stop the abuse and neglect.
“This landmark inquiry must lead to better funding, tighter regulation and more staffing.
“The Morrison Government can’t just blame industry or workers. This is their job and happened on their watch, which the Royal Commission makes abundantly clear.
“The Palaszczuk Government has introduced a bill to parliament to introduce mandatory staff to resident ratios in aged care homes that Queensland Health runs.
“Crucially, we’ll also ask the private providers, who deliver the vast majority of aged care places in Queensland, to publish their staffing levels so families know who is taking care of their parents and grandparents.
“Scott Morrison and Deb Frecklington have opposed our legislation, I hope that after reading the Royal Commission’s findings they have a change of heart.”
The Royal Commission’s Interim Report is titled ‘Neglect’ and found systemic issues throughout the aged care sector.
It says, “by any measure, this is a cruel and discriminatory system, which places great strain on older Australians and their relatives. It is unfair. Older people should receive the home care services they need to live safely at home. Funding should be forthcoming from the Australian Government to ensure the timely delivery of these services. It is shocking that the express wishes of older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, with the supports they need, is downplayed with an expectation that they will manage. It is unsafe practice. It is neglect.”
Queensland Health is only a small provider of aged care services in Queensland, providing less than three per cent of aged care places, but it takes pride in the quality of care it provides. Queensland Health will now carefully consider the interim report’s recommendations.
To read the report go to:
https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/Pages/interim-report.aspx
