Gutwein on aged care staff surge

TASMANIA’S aged care sector is in a better position to withstand a potential second wave of COVID infections as the crisis in Victoria eases, Premier Peter Gut we in says.

As infection rates in Victoria fell, the size of the reserve health “surge” workforce around the nation grew, Mr Gut we in said on Wednesday.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery state secretary Emily Shepherd told a state parliamentary committee investigating the response to the COVID-19 pandemic that the industry was “prepared on paper ”.“We already know that staffing levels area tan all-time low. There aren’t sufficient numbers of clinical staff to be able to support current residents in residential aged care .”

Ms Shepherd said that one of the problems the health system faced was a lack of a pool of reserve workers who could help out in times of crisis.

But Mr Gutwein said Tasmania was looking beyond its borders as part of the planning to deal with a second wave of coronavirus infections — if oneoccurred.

“The key concern in terms of both aged care and our health preparedness was the fact that Victoria was dealing with a massive outbreak, both across its hospital system and also in its age care system,” he said.

“They had thousands of staff, both in aged care and in the health system that were furloughed, which meant that they were drawing resources from all around the country.

“I’m confident that we will be in a position, should we require a surge workforce that we would be able to access it as Victoria continues to right itself.”