2 August 2010
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's plan to increase the number of aged care beds will not solve Australia's emerging aged care crisis without additional measures to address workforce shortages, according to the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA).
The AHHA is the peak national body representing public hospitals, area health services, community health centres and public aged care providers.
"AHHA welcomes the commitment by Tony Abbott to increasing the number of available high-care aged care beds. There is no doubt that with Australia's ageing population and the current pressure on aged care facilities that more beds are urgently needed," Ms Prue Power, Executive Director, said today.
"Far too many older Australians end up in public hospitals because their aged care facility was unable to provide them with the care they needed due to staffing and capacity issues. This is not a good outcome for them or for their families and is an inefficient use of our scarce public hospital resources.
"However, additional beds on their own are not enough to address this growing problem. To ensure older Australians can receive the level of care they require in aged care facility, workforce measures are also required.
"Currently, Australia is experiencing shortages in all areas of the aged care workforce, including among nursing and medical professionals. Staff who continue to work within the aged care sector are themselves ageing and becoming burnt-out by the demands of this very challenging role.
"We need to urgently increase the numbers of nurses, support workers, allied health and medical professionals working in the aged care sector and do more to support those who already work in this challenging field.
"AHHA is extremely concerned that Tony Abbott intends to fund additional beds through cutting promised funding for GP visits to aged care facilities. GPs play a crucial role in providing care to residents of aged care facilities and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.
"Aged care is a complex area and it is essential that we provide adequate support for GPs who provide this important service. If funding for GP visits is reduced, many GPs may choose not to continue working in this area leaving frail aged care patients without access to medical care in their homes and creating additional pressure on public hospitals.
"AHHA calls on the Coalition to commit to funding aged care workforce measures to support the additional beds and, in particular, to reversing the decision to cut funding for GP visits," Ms Power said.
For further information/comment: Ms Prue Power 0417 419 857