A recent review into a local outbreak in Melbourne nursing homes finds out that there is an inadequacy in terms of replacement staff to deal with infection control.
An independent review concluded that Australia still does not have enough surge workforce to handle coronavirus outbreaks in aged care facilities.
The review into Melbourne’s St. Basil’s and Epping Gardens aged care facilities found out the failure in terms of preparation by the government to manage COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities.
Lyn Gilbert and Alan Lilly conducted the review and said that figures just reflect how incapable the existing workforce to counter localised COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities.
Gilbert and Lilly, who also conducted the August review in the Newmarch House outbreak, pointed out that the main reason for this matter is the inadequate and suboptimal emergency planning and infection prevention capability, heightened by a faltered leadership that cannot manage the existing situation since it never had a similar experience before.
The report highlighted how St. Basil’s new managers cannot control the ongoing situation in the aged care facilities. Even the replacement workforce lacks enough understanding on how to initiate and conduct effective infection control added by the language barrier within the facilities.
External providers reported in July that the previous workforce in the facility does not provide enough not quality care to the residents, leading to their termination and replacement.
However, the ruling failed because there was no full cooperation between the groups involved.
Meanwhile, the Epping Gardens report pointed out that there was no formal surge workforce plan in place. The lack of personal care assistants opens up vulnerability to the facility and could even lead to serious effects.
Gilbert and Lilly said that despite the ongoing efforts by the commonwealth, the demands are still likely to exceed in times of large outbreaks.
The two added that COVID-19 management in these two facilities was even complicated by delayed results of contact tracing and laboratory testing services. Aged care facilities were tremendously affected by the increasing strain on the healthcare systems caused by COVID-19 admissions.
Julie Collins, Labor’s aged care spokeswoman, said that the report just reflects how the Morrison government failed in addressing the issues in Australian aged care.
Australia’s COVID-19 cases have been suppressed. However, the aged care remains vulnerable.
Health Minister Greg Hunt just gained responsibility for aged care and said that the government will continue to initiate plans that will ensure the safety of the elderly throughout.
