The requirement for NSW aged care homes to have a registered nurse on duty around the clock for frail residents will be abandoned after the Baird Government decided it was the federal government’s problem.
The Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association said it was “gobsmacked” by Health Minister Jillian Skinner’s response to a NSW Parliamentary inquiry, which had urged the Baird Government to retain 24/7 registered nurses in NSW nursing homes.
Old people will be put “at risk” by the move, according to the Greens.
Ms Skinner has told the inquiry aged care homes were now regulated by Commonwealth law and it would “duplicate regulatory process” to keep the NSW rule for nursing care.
“The only benefit of removing the 24/7 Registered Nurse requirement is increased profits for nursing homes. But it comes at a high cost to elderly residents and their families,” said Ellis Blaikie, CPSA senior policy adviser… Read More>>
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald