Aug 11, 2020

Plan continues to “evolve”: aged care minister responds to Royal Commission claims

 

The Aged Care Minister has hit back at comments made at yesterday’s royal commission hearing that the aged care sector was “underprepared” to deal with COVID-19.

At the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety yesterday, counsel assisting Peter Rozen QC forensically examined the response of the aged care sector to COVID-19. 

His findings were damning. 

“Neither the Commonwealth Department of Health nor the aged care regulator developed a COVID-19 plan specifically for the aged care sector,” Mr Rozen said.

More than 1,000 aged care residents have now been infected with COVID-19, of whom 168 have died. Australia now has one of the highest rates of death in aged care homes in the world.

Advice for aged care came too late

But on ABC Radio National this morning, the Aged Care Minister, Richard Colbeck hit back at those claims. 

“We do have a plan,” he said, noting that the plan continues to “evolve” and “develop”, and incorporate learnings from both Newmarch House and Dorothy Henderson Lodge, as well as from overseas.

He said the government takes its advice from the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia, which has “served it well”.

He did not accept the assertion that advice about wearing masks, surge workforces, and staff working across homes, as well as other crucial matters, was provided too late.

Minister not told of St Basil’s for four days

Mr Colbeck also said he “was not happy” the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission did not tell the federal government that a staff member at St Basil’s had tested positive to COVID-19 until four days later.

“There was a gap in the systems,” he said. “They should have told us immediately.”

The Minister only became aware of the case when the Prime Minister Scott Morrison was informed.

Image: kali9, iStock.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Australia has one of the world’s highest rates of COVID death in nursing homes, royal commission hears

  The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety hearings resumed on Monday, with counsel assisting the royal commission, Peter Rozen QC, opening proceedings. He began with damning observations of the sector’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities in both New South Wales and Victoria. Mr Rozen acknowledged the “extraordinarily difficult... Read More

Pensioners can now access free rapid antigen tests – but pharmacists don’t have the stock

Some pharmacies are receiving more than four calls per minute about RAT supplies, with demand only expected to increase as the tests become free for concession card holders. Read More

Dogs Are Being Trained To Sniff Out COVID-19 In Humans

While every household pet has its own personality, the reputation of dogs as humble and loving companions may actually be a disguise that helps to conceal their superhero-esque abilities. With up to 300 million smell receptors – compared to six million in humans – dogs possess a sense of smell that is more sensitive than... Read More
Advertisement