The evacuation of the elderly from Earle Haven nursing home was shocking

A bipartisan approach is needed so that elderly people do not have to suffer a repeat of what happened at the Earle Haven nursing home on the Gold Coast, writes Sarah Vogler.

THE aged-care scandal that saw vulnerable elderly Queenslanders left stranded without food or medication at a Gold Coast facility following a contract dispute has rightfully shocked the state.

The heartbreaking stories of elderly patients – many suffering dementia – who had to be evacuated from their home, the images of cupboards stripped bare of food and medication and the desperation of their families as they attempted to understand how this was ever allowed to happen were palpable.

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The Queensland Nurses Union described it as unprecedented and shocking.

Indeed it sent a cold shiver down the spines of most Queenslanders.

Most either have or have had an elderly resident in care. Or they know they may end up there themselves.

And the thought that this not only can happen but did happen is terrifying.

Exactly how this saga will end for all involved is ongoing.

While it could and should have been avoided, the timing of the scandal at the Earle Haven nursing home could not have been better with the Aged Care Royal Commission sitting in Queensland last week and due to return to the State in coming weeks.

It means what happened to these vulnerable Queenslanders will not just be swept under the carpet like it often would be.

Earle Haven has been hit by federal sanctions and banned from taking any new residents for six months.

Kate Carnell is investigating the incident at Earle Haven. Picture: Kym Smith

It will also be the subject of a Federal Inquiry, headed by former ACT chief minister Kate Carnell. And now, a state inquiry is likely as well.

Queensland Parliament is already conducting its own inquiry into aged care in the state.

It is part of the historic end-of-life inquiry that is also looking at whether Queensland should have laws allowing voluntary assisted dying for the terminally ill.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged the potential for the Parliamentary Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee to look into the Earle Haven saga as well.

She mooted the potential while announcing her own moves to improve care for elderly residents living in the 16 nursing homes owned by the State with new nurse to patient ratios to ensure they receive at least 3.65 hours with a nurse per day.

Sherene Gibson, whose friend was moved from Earle Haven's high care wing, is seen leaving the Earle Haven Retirement Village on the Gold Coast. Picture: AAP/Darren England

State-owned nursing homes will need to report on how those nursing hours quarterly under the changes.

Private homes that don’t follow suit and report theirs will be named and shamed.

No doubt more reforms are likely from both the Royal Commission and the state and federal inquiries, but it is a start.

The main thing now is for the Federal and State Governments to work together to not only get to the bottom of how the Earle Haven saga happened but to determine how to stop it happening again.

They need to do this in a bipartisan manner, without political pointscoring.

Because while playing the blame game might make sense to politicians, it does nothing to help the elderly residents and their families who are hurting the most.