Outcry mounts over proposed mid-level nurse cuts at Southern Cross Care

Outcry is mounting over a proposed new ‘household model’ at a Tasmanian aged care provider, with a nurse saying proposed nursing cuts could impact resident safety. HERE’S WHY >

Southern Cross Care.

Outcry against Southern Cross Care’s proposed new “household model” is reaching fever pitch as concerns mount over impacts on mid-tier nursing staff and resident safety.

On Saturday, the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) slammed proposed changes to overhaul its staffing by cutting enrolled nurses from its rosters and replacing them with carers.

Assistant state secretary Lucas Digney Southern Cross Care’s 155 enrolled nurses “are not going to cop” a $5 an hour pay cut and would walk out – leaving aged care residents with substandard care.

“(This) … will see the removal of enrolled nurses from their workforce, and will simply be a workforce of registered nurses and care staff, as well as their support staff. It’s super concerning,” he said.

“If they go ahead with this, it will lower the standard of care to the residents who reside at Southern Cross Care. If we’ve learnt anything from the aged care royal commission, it’s that those standards of care must be lifted.”

HACSU member Lucas Digney.

Mr Digney said the aged care provider, which runs a number of facilities across Tasmania, was expected to make a decision about the household model in mid-April.

“We’ll continue to campaign against any decision to roll out a household model that doesn’t include enrolled nurses.”

Enrolled nurse Melanie Rataj, who doesn’t work at Southern Cross Care, said the proposed changes made her “scared” and “angry”.

“I’m scared that other providers will follow this model of care. It devalues enrolled nurses in the role,” she said.

“It makes me angry also for the residents because I feel they won’t receive proper care in having lesser-trained staff care for them.

“It’s a scary time.”

Ms Rataj said if enrolled nurses left Southern Cross Care, the consequences could be serious for residents.

“Carers do receive some training but they’re not trained in wound care, they’re not trained in medications, they’re not trained in identifying clinical declines,” she said.

Southern Cross Care was contacted for comment.

Previously, CEO Robyn Boyd told the Mercury the changes were in response to recommendations from the aged care royal commission, the federal government’s funding and care reform agenda, and resident feedback.

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