Aged-care sector needs fund injection before Royal Commission ends
Friday, 18 October, 2019
Following an alarming report, (LASA) has called on the government to relieve the financial stress affecting the sector while the goes about its critical work.
厂迟别飞补谤迟叠谤辞飞苍鈥檚 for the 2018/2019 financial year highlights viability concerns for some approved providers, impacting on their ability to maintain service levels, reducing investment in the sector and potentially causing the dislocation of care recipients and staff if a service fails.
The survey emphasises that government subsidies are not keeping pace with the rising costs of delivering high-quality care and services. The performance of the sector continues to experience challenges due to further declines in financial results for the residential and home-care segments.
The report reveals that residential care operating results declined in real terms, even after the one-off government injection of $320 million.
鈥淪ubstantial and appropriate funding initiatives need to progress during the Royal Commission period rather than delaying until their findings and recommendations are tabled, to then be considered by parliament and sector stakeholders, which may be some years away,鈥 said the report.
鈥淭he aged-care sector does not have the luxury of time as many of the issues being experienced are increasingly of a long-term nature and, accordingly, will require structural changes to remedy.鈥
LASA CEO Sean Rooney said the latest data only confirms what the sector has been telling government and warns that older Australians will be impacted unless action is taken now.
鈥淥ur members have been warning of potential withdrawal of services, staff cuts and reduced services to residents and care recipients unless something changes,鈥 Rooney said.
鈥淢eeting the needs of older Australians is an issue of national importance. Ongoing financial pressure undermines the sector鈥檚 ability to provide the services that older Australians need and deserve.
鈥淎s this report states, we cannot wait for the Royal Commission to run its course as that will be too late for some providers.
鈥淟ASA renews its call on the government to act now to prevent loss of services while the Royal Commission goes about its important job of considering longer-term reforms for the aged-care system,鈥 he concluded.
Nominations open for 2025 National Palliative Care Awards
Palliative Care Australia has announced that nominations are now open for the 2025 National...
"Damning statistics" from almost 1500 WA junior doctors
The AMA (WA) 黑料吃瓜群网 Health Check 2025 surveyed almost 1500 junior doctors — 30% who...
AMA: "Extreme Ahpra power used too readily"
The Australian Medical Association has called for changes to the law governing Ahpra, which it...