28 April 2022
In a shocking indictment on the Federal Government’s inaction on aged care, Department of Health statistics reveal more than half of all the aged care residents who succumbed to COVID-related illnesses during the pandemic died within the first four months of 2022.
That’s 1,179 reported deaths nationally as of April 22 for this year, compared to a total of 2,096 since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.
And yet despite this damning statistic, the Morrison Government, which has presided over a disastrous vaccination roll-out among elderly residents, refuses to take urgent and serious action to remedy a sector beset by endemic resident neglect caused in large part by dangerously low staff numbers and right skills mix. Nationally the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has been running a Fix Aged Care pledge campaign, asking federal politicians to commit to actions that address:
• The need for Registered Nurse 24/7 cover in all aged care sites
• Safe staffing ratios and the right skills mix
• The need for greater transparency for funding tied to care in the sector • the need for better pay and working conditions so that we can attract and retain the workforce that is needed.
“This Morrison Government lacks even one politician prepared to commit to our aged care pledge, to put in place measures we absolutely know would go a long way to ending the suffering of both residents and staff alike,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
By contrast every single federal Labor politician in South Australia has committed to the ANMF’s national campaign. The Greens and key independents have also supported central elements of the campaign.
In the federal electorate of Boothby, three of the four candidates – Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost, the Greens’ Jeremy Carter and Independent Jo Dyer - have committed to the ANMF aged care pledge. “And yet despite the fact Boothby is a marginal seat with one of the oldest demographics in the country, and despite the fact it is potentially pivotal to the outcome of the election, the Liberal candidate, Rachel Swift, to date, has failed to sign our pledge,’’ Ms Dabars said. “The mind boggles. Does this Morrison Government actually care about aged care? Their lack of action suggests not.’’