DUMPING OUR AGED RESIDENTS

Shocking report sparks minister’s anger

A TOTAL of 460 of the city’s residents in aged-care facilities have been “dumped” into the Toowoomba Hospital emergency department since July 2017.

The figures come on the back of a scathing assessment from the Minister for Health Steven Miles, who accused providers of putting profit before people.

“Many for-profit aged care providers are calling ambulances with the intention of dumping residents at hospital emergency departments because their care needs have become too expensive or because they don’t have sufficient nurses on staff,” he said.

The minister claimed residents were moved into the emergency de-

partment in a bid to free up valuable aged-care places and save on in-house medical costs.

“Once an elderly patient is admitted to hospital they are unlikely to leave, saving the nursing home from the costs of their care and allowing them to bring in new residents that require less medical attention,” he said.

USQ Professor Bob Knight, whose area of expertise is aged-care, mental health and geriatrics, said the situation in Toowoomba reflected what he believed “happens everywhere”.

“A lot of the reasons for these transfers don’t really rise to the level of what emergency departments are supposed to do,” Prof Knight said.

In a statement to The Chronicle yesterday, the Federal Government, who regulates aged care in all states and territories, said it was committed to the quality of care for older Australians.

“Ensuring Australian aged care has a strong supply and adequate provision of appropriately trained, skilled and resourced staff is a top government priority,” Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt said.

Darling Downs Health and Hospital Service did not respond to a request for comment in time for print.