Mar 16, 2020

Government must provide better protection for aged care nurses and residents

The country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), is working with the Federal Government, health departments and industry stakeholders on contingency plans to prevent the transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect the aged care workforce and vulnerable nursing home residents.

The ANMF is warning that urgent, co-ordinated action is needed to increase the numbers of qualified nurses and carers working in the already, understaffed aged care sector. This follows confirmation today that a long-term employee of an aged care facility at Macquarie Park, in Sydney, had contracted Coronavirus.

Assistant Federal Secretary, Lori-Anne Sharp, says the ANMF is also supporting calls from the ACTU, for the Government to provide financial support for the aged care workforce impacted by a potential outbreak of Coronavirus, given over ten percent of workers in nursing homes are casual employees and do not have access to any paid personal leave. 

“As we know, the aged care sector is already dangerously understaffed. A potential outbreak and consequent lockdowns in nursing homes would inevitably, result in a depleted workforce, with reduced numbers of qualified staff on the ground caring for elderly residents,” Ms Sharp said today.

“As nurses on the frontline, we are calling on the Government to urgently increase the numbers of registered nurses in nursing homes, not just relying on hospital Emergency Departments.

“The contingency plans must ensure that aged care providers have enough supplies and equipment in the event of an outbreak in the aged care system, particularly Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and that there is sufficient properly skilled and trained staff to implement effective infection control measures.

“Our elderly are more vulnerable than others in the community, many of them with co-morbidities – they are most at risk and need protection. 

“It is crucial that in the event of an outbreak of the Coronavirus, the aged care industry is fully-prepared to treat the elderly and stop further transmission and act promptly to prevent further complications”.

Ms Sharp says the ANMF and its State and Territory branches continue to provide its members working in the health and aged care sectors with support and advice in relation to Coronavirus.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Bupa Aged Care Workers Continue Strike for Better Wages and Work Conditions

The second stage of the protected industrial action commenced on Monday 9 October and has occurred in 9 Bupa facilities across Victoria. Overall, approximately 800 aged care nurses and carers across Victoria will start protected industrial action this week in Bupa’s 26 nursing homes as part of their campaign for improved staffing levels, skill mix... Read More

Aged Care Workers Spend Average of 6 Minutes Getting Residents Ready in the Morning

Could you get ready in the morning in six minutes? Most people wouldn’t be able to. But in aged care, it’s expected that staff get the residents ready in the morning in a mere six minutes. That includes waking the elderly residents from bed, helping them to the toilet or changing their incontinence protection, getting... Read More

The cost of unpaid care

If every unpaid carer in Australia decided that their contribution should be paid, we would have to come up annually with more than we spend on defence. Read More
Advertisement