Big drop in check on aged care homes in Tasmania

There has been a shock number of aged care home checks in Tasmania, despite multiple deadly outbreaks interstate and the Premier’s fears for our more vulnerable population. Find out why.

• Fear of COVID, economy among reasons for border shutdown
• Incentives on offer to encourage GPs to provide aged care services

THERE have been no unannounced safety checks at Tasmanian aged care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite nursing homes interstate being at the centre of multiple deadly outbreaks.

Figures obtained from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission reveal that between March 16 and August 14, 2020, a period which includes the deadly coronavirus outbreak in Tasmania’s North-West, zero unannounced visits were conducted.

By comparison, there were 63 unannounced visits carried out each in NSW and Victoria, 55 in Queensland and 20 in South Australia.

There were also just two short-notice visits since March 16, compared to 123 in NSW, 25 in Victoria, 48 in Queensland and 39 in South Australia.

Labor is now calling on the federal government to explain why the aged care regulator has dramatically scaled back checks on Tasmanian aged care facilities.

“It’s shocking there have been next to no visits to check on aged care homes in Tasmania,” Ageing and Seniors Shadow Minister Julie Collins said.

“The Morrison Government must beef-up the powers of the regulator to keep older Tasmanians safe.

“Tasmanians must have confidence that every aged care home is ready for COVID-19.”

Nursing homes interstate have been at the centre of multiple deadly COVID-19 outbreaks and Premier Peter Gutwein said buying more time to for local facilities to prepare was one of the reasons he had pushed back reopening the state’s borders until December 1.

Mr Gutwein said he had absolute confidence in the federal response to COVID-19 in Tasmanian aged care homes.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said he was unaware of any state rules which would curtail federal inspections.

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Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson PSM said the commission had 22 local staff and contractors based in Tasmania and had adjusted its regulatory activities during the pandemic “to minimise infection risks for residents, staff and its own employees”.

“The Commission has continued its monitoring and compliance activities, including conducting short notice site visits, to monitor and assess the quality of care at aged care services,” she said.

“We also continue to respond to complaints received about particular aged care services, and use these complaints as an important source of regulatory intelligence.”

Ms Anderson said the commission had also conducted a telephone assessment of every aged care approved provider in Tasmania to monitor providers’ preparation for a potential COVID-19 outbreak and manage visitor restrictions.

She said the commission also recently conducted a fresh round of self-assessment surveys by providers in Tasmania to undertake a critical check of providers’ Outbreak Management Plans.

Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring the commission continued providing national oversight to assist aged care providers to prepare for, and respond to, COVID-19.

“Given the constraints of a COVID-19 environment and to ensure the safety of residents the Commissioner uses a number of tools to assess care provision within residential aged care in Tasmania,” he said.

“I am confident this work will continue, with an emphasis on ensuring the quality of care for senior Australians, in what is a challenging time for the aged care sector.”

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