Health Minister Yvette D’Ath say the Commonwealth are to blame for Covid-19 related aged care deaths

The federal Health Minister has rejected his Queensland counterpart’s claims that the state’s aged-care Covid-19 deaths are the fault of the Coalition Government.

More than half of Queensland’s Covid-19 deaths since borders opened have been in aged care, with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath laying all blame at the feet of the Federal Government.

The latest government data shows of the 202 Covid-19 deaths in Queensland in the last two months, 107 have been residents in aged care.

Ms D’Ath, in a scathing press conference, alleged the Federal Government had effectively come running to the states seeking help to source hospital beds, personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests for the aged-care sector.

“I’m hearing of residents being locked behind doors for days on end, I’m worried about adequate food and staff to provide healthy meals to residents, I’m worried about adequate staff and I’m very concerned that there are not enough aged care residents out there getting the boosters,” she said.

Ms D’Ath’s claims, all of which are disputed by federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s office, included that the Commonwealth:

– Had asked the state 26 times in the last seven days for urgent help to supply PPE and rapid antigen tests to aged-care facilities

– As recently as January 19 asked the state to activate contracts with private hospitals to find staff and beds for aged care residents should the need arise

– Had failed to provide transparency on booster vaccine coverage in aged care.

A spokesman for Mr Hunt said Ms D’Ath’s claims were another attempt from the State Government to shift blame to “anyone but themselves” as they “continue to play politics with the pandemic”.

Mr Hunt’s office said the national private hospital agreement was fully paid for by the Commonwealth but administered by the state, so reminding Queensland to get beds ready from the private system was within scope, and any attempt to obfuscate that was “a disgrace”.

On the calls for PPE supply help, the Minister’s office said there was an assisting arrangement where state warehouses could restock aged care PPE supply before that stock is replenished by the Commonwealth.

“It is concerning that the Queensland Minister is not aware of this,” the spokesman said.

On booster transparency, the minister’s office said 99 per cent of aged-care facilities had been visited by a booster clinic.

But Ms D’Ath’s concerns are of the take up of the booster shot by residents when the roving clinic arrives, data which has not been made public.

“I’m hearing people who say they’re begging managers of aged care facilities to bring people in to vaccinate their loved ones for boosters and that’s sadly coming at the same time as they start getting Covid-positive cases spreading throughout facilities.”