A Covid-19 update and more implementing of the Royal Commission recommendations
Ross Thompson (MRCSA)
Infinity Staff Global | Infinity Staff Blue | NPA Worldwide Business Partner | TEAM Network Member | Recruiting Across the USA/AFRICA/UK/AUSTRALIA/EUROPE
In this month’s newsletter I explore another of the Royal Commission’s recommendations that the Federal Government is acting on, but before I get to that I want to talk briefly about Covid-19 and aged care…
While life in some areas seems to be going on as though the pandemic is over, those of us in the aged care sector know that isn’t the case. A federal health report revealed more than 3800 aged care residents died from Covid-19 in the past 12 months, which is four times the number that died in the first two years of the pandemic.
The Department of Health and Aged Care will be contacting aged care providers to encourage them to offer residents a fifth Covid-19 vaccination, which began being rolled out from 20 February. GPs and community pharmacies will receive incentive payments to attend aged care facilities to provide the vaccinations.?
On to the Royal Commission's Recommendations…
The Royal Commission's Aged Care Recommendations
The Royal Commission recommended that the Australian Government establish both an Inspector-General of Aged Care and Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care to support the Inspector-General’s work. Establishing the office and the position will require legislation, which is expected to pass mid-year. In the meantime, Ian Yates commenced his role as the Interim Inspector-General on 30 January.?
What is the purpose of the Inspector-General of Aged Care and Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care?
The Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care will be an independent agency that will oversee the Government’s administration, regulation, and funding of aged care.
The role of the Inspector-General is to drive improvement across the aged care sector by evaluating the current system with a focus on systemic issues and recommending improvements. The aim is to increase transparency and accountability by reporting to Parliament on how all aspects of aged care are being managed by the Government, including the progress on the implementation of Royal Commission recommendations.
The Inspector-General will also have oversight of the complaints management framework, and will be responsible for reviewing how complaints are managed by government agencies, approved providers, and other aged care bodies funded or regulated by the Government.
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What will the Interim Appointee do?
The purpose of appointing an Interim Inspector-General is to have the future independent body already set up in time for its establishment by legislation and to model its functions ahead of its launch.?
A press release from the office of the Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, has listed the following as being among Mr Yates’ duties:
Mr Yates told Australian Ageing Agenda that he intends to hold a number of face-to-face and hybrid consultations with stakeholders over the next few months to seek input on what the interim office should focus on. While the Office will take feedback on the current system during this process, Mr Yates stressed that they will not be investigating individual complaints and will instead be focused on improving the system, including the complaints handling process itself.
It is Mr Yates’ intention that the consultation process will inform one or two in-depth reviews for the Interim Office to focus on until the permanent Office is established. Mr Yates also aims to compile a report on the implementation of the Royal Commission recommendations up to the middle of this year.
Who is Ian Yates?
Mr Yates brings a wealth of experience in the aged care sector to his new role, having served as the Chief Executive of the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia for 20 years and heading up COTA South Australia for 13 years prior to that. He has also represented older Australians on key federal government and sector advisory bodies, including nine years as a member of the Aged Care Financing Authority. He is Chair of the Council of Elders, and a Member of the National Aged Care Advisory Council and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council.
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Registered Nurse / Manager Retired
2 年I’m so glad to see more focus on Aged Care. The governments denial that aged care facilities are healthcare facilities is a great metaphor when we consider the need in that sector. Has the increase in deaths from Covid been evaluated against any increase in numbers entering aged care and the relationship between the deaths from Covid and their vaccines? Aged Care has been a strong environment for evidence -based best practice! Re a fifth Covid Vaccination being offered our elderly: I hope services offer the vaccine accompanied by an opportunity for a confidential consultation with their doctor’s to establish trust! Having nursing teams, unknown to the residents, come through with the vaccine doesn’t demonstrate the person centred approach required. Talk about herd immunity! The co-morbidities, including respiratory, in the aged is just one factor. We now have more demand for aged care, with the baby boomers requiring support. From my experience on the Gold Coast, our aged care facilities have contracted more Covid outbreaks from those returning from hospital and are becoming more resistive to transferring out of the home during acute crises.