It’s time to fight for proper staffing levels in aged care

I AM writing in response to recent comments by QNMU Secretary Beth Mohle.

It saddens me to the point of anger, that the Federal Minister for Aged Care would, in the first instance, choose to blame and impugn the nursing staff and carers of our most vulnerable and aged, instead of conceding that the issue here is inadequate staff-topatient ratios.

The system and business models currently in place dictate the expenditure on staffing levels and the shortfall is such that it promotes a lack of, not just adequate, but appropriate and safe nursing care in these facilities.

The audit attended by the QNMU in Queensland aged care facilities on International Nurses Day, 12/05/2018, just highlights what is well known to those of us in this profession as well as many residents’ families, and not just recently. No. This has been a systemic and ongoing issue for years if not decades. As noted by Ms Mohle, the QNMU has been asking for increased reporting in this area since 2009 with 29 submissions – all of which have been largely ignored. Shame. Shame. Shame.

I have been a registered nurse of nearly 40 years. My fields of nursing have been in public health care in general, midwifery and mental health. However, in my early years I also worked in aged-care facilities and I know it takes a very special kind of person to have the compassion and dedication to work in this field.

The staff then as, I am certain, now, were always respectful of the residents. Yet, they could do more for those in their care, spend more time with them and be able to provide the most qualified and safe care to these residents if the main focus was on appropriate staffing, rather than profit and shareholder dividends.

Our elderly deserve much better than this. They deserve appropriate and safe care, and just as importantly, they deserve respect. When did our most vulnerable become fodder in profit-making adventures? When did we, as a society, turn our back and drop the ball on this issue by not holding the facilities to account if standards were lacking?

It is not so much the staff members who need scrutiny. A review to identify better practices in nursing care is always welcomed. The carers are doing the best that they can with the limited resources and knowledge that they have. Aged-care facilities need to have legislated nurse-toresident ratios – now! This includes more registered nurses at all times, as well as enrolled nurses, AIN’s and personal carers.

This audit is just the tip of a very large iceberg, putting our loved ones at constant risk. What is the solution here? An independent review? Dare I even say a Royal Commission into Aged Care may even be warranted? Whatever it takes, we must, as a sentient and caring society bring this issue to light and respectfully address what needs to be done.

Aged care is shaping up to be a key federal election issue. As with the QNMU, I believe all federal sitting MPs and candidates should make their aged-care platforms clear, including whether they support mandating safe staffing levels. I encourage everyone to contact your local sitting federal Member or candidate and ask them the hard questions.

Put them all on notice that we will not back away from this.

To join Australia’s 260,000 nurses and midwives who support aged-care workers in the fight for improved aged-care conditions please visit www.morestaffforagedcare.com.au