Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission back conducting spot checks

After it was revealed no unannounced visits were conducted in Tasmanian aged care facilities during the height of the pandemic in the state, the Premier has given an update on what is being done to prepare the sector for an outbreak.

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MORE than 30 spot checks have been completed in Tasmanian aged care facilities in recent weeks after it was previously revealed there were none done during the height of the pandemic in the state.

It was revealed last month there had 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 included the coronavirus outbreak in Tasmania’s North-West, zero unannounced visits were conducted.

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

Premier Peter Gutwein said on Friday the Commission were now continuing spot checks.

“At close of business yesterday [Thursday], 30 spot checks had been completed and more were expected over the coming weeks,” he said.

Senator Richard Colbeck (R), Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, talks with a fellow Senator as he sits in the Australian Senate at Parliament House on September 3, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. The federal aged care royal commission has criticised the Morrison government for failing to establish independent monitoring and reporting of aged care quality outcomes during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by David Gray/Getty Images)

“Over the coming weeks, 15 experienced nurses will be deployed in groups of 2-3 to visit facilities to discuss their planning and preparedness to ensure the appropriate support is there enable them to response to an outbreak.

“There are 11 visits scheduled for next week.”

Federal Aged Care Minister, Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck, has increasingly come under fire for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis in aged care.