Coronavirus: No checks on almost 200 homecare providers

More than 180 home care providers had never been assessed against quality standards on the eve of the coronavirus pandemic.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck. Picture: Gary Ramage

More than 180 homecare providers were never assessed against quality standards at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, despite a significant number having been in operation for more than three years.

The Morrison government on Monday said it would boost aged-care funding by an extra $563.3m to defend against COVID-19 outbreaks as Victoria recorded 41 deaths, with just eight of the fatalities occurring in the previous 24 hours.

During the funding announcement, aimed at topping up the government’s response to coronavirus outbreaks at aged-care facilities, Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck was repeatedly spoken over by Health Minister Greg Hunt.

It comes after The Australian last week reported that Senator Colbeck had been “cut out” of decisions to activate new aged-care emergency measures during a COVID-19 outbreak, with Mr Hunt given responsibility for mobilising state response centres.

The Australian can reveal that 182 of 2241 active care home services had not been inspected by the federal regulator as at May 12, according to information provided to the Senate by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Aged care has become a watershed issue when it comes to the government’s response to the coronavirus crisis, with the sector’s royal commission on Monday hearing that homecare should be urgently prioritised over residential aged care.

Special counsel assisting the commission, Peter Gray, levelled criticism at the aged-care regulator on Monday for not providing sufficient oversight of those providing homecare services. “Since July 2019, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of quality reviews, audits and assessment contracts conducted by ACQSC assessors,” he said.

Senator Colbeck on Monday confirmed the ACQSC “ceased” unannounced visits to facilities at the height of the pandemic on medical advice.

He continued to dismiss Labor calls for him to stand down over his handling of the portfolio during the health crisis.

“No, I haven’t considered my resignation,” he said. “I do believe I still have the confidence of the Prime Minister.”

Senator Colbeck said the funding announcement demonstrated the work he was doing to ensure that Australian aged-care residents got the support they needed through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The opposition’s aged-care spokes­woman, Julie Collins, told The Australian it was unacceptable so many providers had not been checked.

“Australians should be confident all homecare providers are delivering high quality care, and safely,” she said.

Senator Colbeck said the government was closely watching the royal commission so it could respond to its report, due on February 26 next year, in the May budget.