New hope for devastated NSW town with no aged care

A small regional town with no aged care homes to support elderly residents has finally got a glimmer of hope. Find out the Coalition’s election pledge.

A devastated NSW town with no aged care homes will get new hope under a $15m Coalition election pledge that will plug the gap as more aged care providers shut up shop.

Bombala Multipurpose Service will get the funding after The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit revealed harrowing stories of elderly patients being left to live in existing ill-fitted hospital aged care wards or homes in neighbouring towns because the only aged care provider in the region folded.

The funding commitment marks another state intervention in an area traditionally governed by the Commonwealth after the Coalition partnered with Victoria to fund GP-run urgent care clinics.

Helen Dracopoulos was forced to move away from their town to get access to aged care. Picture David Rogers

Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said there had been continued delays to find a solution to concerning aged care gaps in the state’s south east.

“Following the closure of Currawarna Nursing Home in Delegate by Southern Cross Care, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has been working behind the scenes and with the community on a solution,” Ms Taylor said.

Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor and Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: Monique Harmer

“Aged care is, and continues to be the responsibility of the Federal Government, however, we are yet to hear of a solution to the significant aged care gaps in our region.

“A re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $15 million towards the $37 million, 30-bed expansion of the residential aged care facility at the Bombala MPS, a proposal currently before the Federal Health and Aged Care Minister.”

The NSW government is calling the federal government to stump up the remaining funding which would allow for 40 beds.

Monaro MP Nichole Overall added: “There are simply too many elderly people in acute care beds in the NSW public health system awaiting a place in an aged care facility, where they should be receiving a more dignified, comfortable standard of care.”