The Morrison Government must urgently assure all Australians that residential aged care facilities are safe and prepared for COVID-19.
It is deeply concerning a facility in Essendon with the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in aged care has not been audited by the Morrison Government’s aged care regulator in more than three years.
This was despite the provider being hauled before the Aged Care Royal Commission in October last year after another of its Melbourne facilities was sanctioned by the regulator.
The evidence presented at the Royal Commission was damning. Why didn’t the Morrison Government’s aged care regulator look at this provider’s other facilities?
This concerning lapse must force the Morrison Government to act: older Australians in aged care and their loved ones deserve this.
The Morrison Government’s regulator must immediately assure residents at the facility in Essendon and their loved ones that this facility is safe.
The Liberal Government promised that audits and reviews of aged care facilities would be ‘relentless’ but this facility appears to have fallen through the cracks.
We have seen the devastating impact of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care in Australia and across the globe.
There must also be clear communication with the residents and their families at any facility with an outbreak of COVID-19.
Australia’s aged care system was broken before the COVID-19 pandemic and this is only putting extra stress on the system.
All Australians must be assured we have the very best infection control practises in aged care.
