Health Minister Yvette D’Ath says she has no control over private nursing homes as ADF mobilised

The prime minister has announced a special defence force team to help the embattled aged care sector after the state government said it was unable to take control of private nursing homes.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a team from the Australian Defence Forces would be available to help out at aged-care centres if needed. Queensland Heath Minister Yvette D'Ath said her hands were tied at private and federal-government run nursing homes.

The State Government said it was unable to step in and take control of the situation at an aged-care facility south of Brisbane where 15 residents have died of Covid-19.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she was frustrated she could not intervene at Jeta Gardens, where an adviser was appointed by management of the private nursing home on Friday.

Ms D’Ath said it was a problem that the state did not have the regulatory or statutory powers to enforce state nurse-to-patient ratios or other protocols at private health facilities.

The state recorded 19 Covid-19 related deaths overnight with 10 at aged-care facilities.

She was speaking out before Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a package of measures for aged care during the pandemic that will tap in to the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Morrison said the ADF was not a surrogate workforce for the aged-care sector, but there would be four teams on 24 hours’ notice to go into acute situations with health departments in each state.

“These teams include a registered nurse team leader, some medical technicians and personnel to support general duties,” he said.

“It will begin with around 50 personnel going to support each state and up to 200.”

Jeta Gardens nursing home at Bethania in Logan. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms D’Ath said the state had been hampered in its ability to help out at the embattled southeast aged-care facility at Bethania.

“We cannot walk on to a private aged-care site and say, ‘We are here to make sure you’re managing your staff properly, your residents are being looked after and you have a proper nurse-to-patient ratio’,” Ms D’Ath said.

“We did set up a mechanism where we have an opt-in model, or an opt-out model, where facilities can report whether they have correct nurse-to-patient ratios – but we can’t make them do it.

“Jeta Gardens is starting to see the staff coming back to work, so we are seeing a slight improvement as I understand.

“But this is not just about Jeta Gardens — it’s about all the other homes that are not getting the publicity”

Ms D’Ath said if the federal government or the owners of the nursing home asked the state for help, it would be given.

Since the pandemic started, the state has handed out one million pieces of personal protective equipment to the aged-care sector after calls for help.

An ambulance arrives at Jeta Gardens at the weekend. Picture: Liam Kidston

She said all she and her department could do was to “shine a light” on the Jeta Gardens crisis to show the federal government that more had to be done for the aged-care sector.

A royal commission was set up in October 2018 with a final report and six recommendations made public in March 2021.

Recommendations, which were all accepted by the federal government, included immediately funding providers to ensure adequate staff were available and to create Medicare Benefits Schedule items for allied health services for people in aged care during the pandemic.

The commission also recommended a national aged-care plan for Covid-19 through the national cabinet and for trained infection control officers at all residential aged-care homes.

Ms D’Ath slammed a federal program offering two bonuses of up to $400 for staff in the lead up to a federal election which she said “was not going to cut it”.

A spokesman for federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said the bonuses announced last week were part of a package unveiled last year with the aim of supporting staff during the pandemic.

Mr Morrison announced last week the Government would pay a bonus of up to $800 to aged-care workers, at a cost of $210 million.

This bonus is independent from the aged-care wage case before the Fair Work Commission and is recognition for dedication and hard work of aged-care workers.

It is anticipated that 265,000 workers will benefit from the bonus, which will be paid in two instalments of up to $400 each.

Care and support workers in government subsidised home care will be eligible along with direct care workers, food preparation workers and cleaners in government subsidised residential care.

Home care workers will receive a maximum bonus of $600.

The first instalment will be paid to workers employed on February 28 and will be pro-rated based on hours worked.

The second instalment will be paid to workers that are employed on April 28 and will be equal to or greater than the first instalment depending on hours worked.

This builds on the previous three bonus payments in 2020, totalling $393 million.

Originally published as Health Minister Yvette D’Ath says she has no control over private nursing homes as ADF mobilised