The 38 recommendations of an independent review of COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care homes will now be put into practice across Australia after the Federal Government this week accepted its findings.
The recommendations are designed to help aged care operators better prepare for and respond to future COVID-19 outbreaks and will assist the Government in monitoring and evaluating these measures.
The review found that COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care homes were linked to rates of transmission in the community – and good leadership is key to protecting residents and staff against the virus.
Nine lines of defence
The report by Professor Lyn Gilbert AO and Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly outlines nine key lines of defence to minimise risk of COVID-19 outbreaks:
- Built environment and infrastructure;
- Clinical care;
- Effective interagency communication;
- Emergency response;
- Infection prevention and control;
- Leadership, management and governance;
- Planning and preparation;
- Preventing social isolation; and
- Workforce and staff mental health.
“It is clear that effective leadership is the key to success in managing COVID-19 outbreaks and that living the mantra, “go hard, go fast”, is positively correlated with better outcomes. Our recommendations contain a number of focal points for improvement … A commitment to implementation will drive an improved readiness and capability across the aged care sector,” said the report.
COVID-19 transmission expected to increase again
The findings come at a critical time for residents, their families, staff and providers.
With COVID-19 cases in aged care now at their lowest levels for a month – but community cases expected to rise as lockdown restrictions are eased – they are a timely reminder of the need for vigilance.
Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the review is now guiding measures for the protection of aged care residents and workers in the current NSW, Victoria and ACT outbreaks.
In another positive step, the Department of Health is also making available COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits to aged care home in high transmission-risk areas in NSW and Victoria to help prevent and contain further outbreaks.
Accepting the recommendations is a welcome measure, but putting them into action quickly is even better.
