Aged-care facility denies staffing cut

UNION claims that Southern Cross Care is planning to slash up to 170 jobs in its Tasmanian operations have been denied by the aged care provider.

Southern Cross Care chief executive Robyn Boyd said claims that staff were being let go amid a widescale restructure were wrong.

“It’s an absolute lie. Noone’s being sacked and staff aren’t being cut,” Ms Boyd said.

“It’s about multiskilling through training our staff in a variety of roles and skills to be able to provide services to our residents.”

Health and Community Services Union industrial manager Robbie Moore was having none of it, adamant that up to 20 per cent of the workforce, including skilled carers and nurses, would be cut from staff.

The claim comes as HACSU on Wednesday ramped up its campaign with Southern Cross Care by putting forward a woman who told of the “two years of hell” her mother endured at a Southern Cross facility in Hobart.

Yvonne Murfet, whose elderly mother Beth was a former client of Southern Cross Care, has pleaded with the organisation to fix understaffing issues, claiming her mother received substandard care.

“Our residents are suffering. I don’t want any other family to go through what my family has been through,” Ms Murfet said.

“My mum was in a care facility for 12 years, the last two years in a Southern Cross home facility. It’s been two years of hell.”

Ms Murfet said her mother was 81 years old when she died two weeks ago.

“Throughout her four-day palliative care journey, my mum was cared for by exceptional care and nursing staff, these staff were amazing, dedicated, caring and professional,” Ms Murfet said.

But, she said, staff were calling out for help amid worsening work conditions.

“I’ve had staff, only two months ago, stand in front of me crying saying ‘sorry, that we were unable to give your mum a hot meal, we’re understaffed’,” Ms Murfet said.

But Ms Boyd said there were no staffing issues.

“I don’t agree that we don’t have sufficient staff or adequately trained staff. Southern Cross Care is currently accredited across the state in all of its care homes,” she said.

HACSU representative Mr Moore said now was the time for the board of Southern Cross Care to make a vital decision.

“SCC owe it to residents to put on skilled, specialised staff who can provide quality care. Workers should have time to spend caring for residents properly and giving them dignity and enrichment every single day. You can’t put a price on that.”

My mum was in a care facility for 12 years, the last two years in a Southern Cross home facility. It’s been two years of hell Yvonne Murfet