Royal Commission makes six recommendations to help aged care COVID response

The big news this week is the special report released by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety– five months ahead of their Final Report – into the COVID outbreaks that have overwhelmed the aged care sector in recent months.

While the 38-page ‘Aged care and COVID-19: a special report’ labels the Federal Government’s response to the pandemic in residential care as “insufficient”, Commissioners Tony Pagone QC and Lynelle Briggs AO haven’t focused on pointing the finger.

“Now is not the time for blame,” they state. “There is too much at stake. We are left in no doubt that people, governments and government departments have worked tirelessly to avert, contain and respond to this human tragedy.”

Instead, the Commissioners say they want to improve the current response – as soon as possible.

“It is clear to us that people receiving aged care services, their loved ones, those providing care and the aged care sector itself need immediate support and action,” they write. “Governments need guidance based on the evidence we have heard and are able to summarise in this report.”

More funding for staff, a national plan and better infection control

The Commissioners make six recommendations, including:

• Extra funding for staffing to allow aged care residents to receive more visitors
• Improved access to allied health and mental health services for aged care residents through extra items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
• A national aged care plan for COVID-19 and the establishment of a national aged care advisory body. This body would set up a process on who will decide about transfers to hospital of COVID-19 positive residents and ensure any major outbreaks are investigated by an independent expert with the lessons passed into other providers
• All aged care homes should have one or more trained infection control officers as a condition of accreditation with training requirements set by the national advisory body.
• The Government arrange with the States and Territories to deploy accredited infection prevention and control experts into aged care homes to provide training, assist with the preparation of outbreak management plans and assist with outbreaks.

Government commits to implementation of COVID measures

The Federal Government has responded by promising at least $40 million to the measures – and also committing to the Commissioners’ final recommendation: that the Government should report on the implementation of these recommendations by no later than 1 December 2020 – just eight weeks away.

It’s a big commitment from the Government – but one that acknowledges the fact that our leaders have not always prioritised the sector in their pandemic planning.

The measures are also a recognition of the terrible impact that the virus has had on residents, staff, families and managers since February – eight months now.

Let’s hope the Government lives up to its pledge – and we see positive change moving forward.