Blue Care flags Toowoomba nursing home cuts

AGED care provider Blue Care has met with staff ahead of proposed cuts to staffing hours at its Toowoomba nursing home.

Blue Care is yet to inform staff or the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union as to the extent of the proposed cuts. . Picture: Crystal Jones

AGED care provider Blue Care has met with staff ahead of proposed cuts to staffing hours at its Toowoomba nursing home. 

While the numbers of hours to be cut are yet to be decided, Blue Care earlier this year announced similar changes at its facilities in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Yeppoon and Kingaroy. 

In Bundaberg, 11 of 17 enrolled nurses lost their jobs as a result of what Blue Care is calling "proposed changes to work hours and the facility's service model". 

Blue Care staff have been left in limbo, with the organisation yet to inform staff or the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union as to the extent of the proposed cuts. 

The announcement has raised fears among the union that cheaper, lesser-qualified personal carers will take on more work at the expense of enrolled and registered nurses.

Blue Care group executive for regional and remote services Alan Wilson said Australia's aged care sector is "undergoing unprecedented change", prompting the move. 

"Blue Care must change, driven by sector reform and the necessity to create flexibility within our facilities to respond to the changing needs of our residents," he said.

"Doing nothing in response to the changes faced by the aged care sector is not an option for our organisation. 

"As a mission-led, not-for-profit organisation, we have a responsibility to act so that we can continue to serve the community long into the future and support some of our most remote and regional communities across Queensland. 

"It is necessary that we modify how we deliver our services and transition to a personalised care model that is already widely in place across Australia's aged care sector and other areas of Blue Care.

"This model balances the needs of our residents and employees in order to provide sustainable, high-quality care and support."

Mr Wilson stressed that personal carers did not and would not have responsibility for the administration of medication to residents.

"And (they) will continue to practice in accordance with all applicable Federal and State legislation and regulations." 

"Our model of care is designed to meet the community's expectation of affordable access to high-quality person-centered care from people who live and work within their local community," Mr Wilson said.

A Blue Care spokesman said as the consultation process had only just begun, it was too early to speculate on whether there will be "position reductions". 

"Reducing our workforce is only ever a last resort and we are working with our employees to secure the best possible outcome for them, and the clients we serve. Throughout periods of change like these, we continue to be guided by our mission-led values to make the necessary changes with compassion and care," he said. 

Blue Care's announcement comes after the Chronicle revealed last month Churches of Christ Care Queensland told staff at its Toowoomba facility it was considering cutting 400 nursing hours from its fortnightly roster.

Earlier in the year, Southern Cross Care announced it was cutting thousands of hours from its roster at a number of facilities around Queensland, including Chinchilla and Allora. 

Originally published as Blue Care flags Toowoomba nursing home cuts