Doctors and nurses demand fix for aged care
The healthcare industry is demanding immediate action to help fix the aged care sector after explosive revelations in the royal commission.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has launched a joint campaign with the nurses’ union to demand investment in home-care packages, 24-hour on-site nurses, staff-to-patient ratios and incentives for GPs to visit centres.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has received more than 6000 submissions and heard hundreds of hours of evidence, including alleged neglect and mistreatment.
AMA president Dr Tony Bartone tells Steve Price the royal commission findings won’t be released until November 2020.
He believes elderly Australians will suffer without immediate action.
“In the meantime, older Australians in aged care facilities and at home waiting for home care packages, are suffering,” Dr Bartone said.
“[They] are not getting the access to the very best of care and are having second rate options when it comes to their basic human rights.
“I expect, with more pressure, we can deliver the beginning of a funding response required to ensure that Australians don’t continue to suffer.”
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