Aged care initiatives a solid start - AMA
AMA Vice President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today the Government's Budget initiatives in aged care are a welcome recognition of the care needs of older Australians.
"The aged care package is a solid attempt to address the current issues in aged care," Dr Haikerwal said.
"In overall terms, it is an additional 6.4 per cent boost to current expenditure commitments. While it does not go far enough, it is broad ranging and well targeted.
"The AMA welcomes the increase in community care places. However, we regret that it is at the expense of residential aged care places. We will raise our concerns about this shift from residential to community funding with the Minister.
"The new stream of transition care of up to 2,000 places to be created to help older people moving to aged care after a hospital stay is a good initiative. This will help the public hospitals, but these places should not be taken from existing residential places.
"It is a matter of concern to doctors that this seems to be the only form of assistance to ease the pressure on our public hospitals. There is nothing else in the Budget to enhance continuity of care between hospitals, aged care homes, and the community.
"The implementation of the transition care measures needs to recognise that the rehabilitation and care needs of people moving out of acute care are likely to be greater than normally provided in a nursing home setting - and provides for those sub-acute needs with the necessary clinical care.
"Reducing bureaucracy is a good thing if it can be achieved. The streamlining of the aged care assessment and classification administration is a welcome reform that should reduce the stresses that currently act as a real disincentive for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals to work in the aged care sector.
"The AMA welcomes measures to help ease the capital funding crisis in aged care, but much more needs to be done. It is disappointing that the bigger picture for the long term has been neglected. For example, there is nothing about making dementia a National Health Priority, or allocating additional research money to addressing the dementia epidemic.
"One of the major issues confronting aged care is workforce. The remuneration, working conditions and facilities for all aged care workers - doctors, nurses and carers - must be commensurate with the high quality care and comfort and companionship they provide.
"For instance, it is a matter of great concern that aged care nurses are paid up to 25 per cent less than acute care nurses in hospitals.
"Overall, in the budgetary surplus situation, the aged care package could have done so much more to address the bigger picture of the future needs surrounding ageing in our society," Dr Haikerwal said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761