Inquiry supports RNs in aged care

A four-month inquiry into the role of registered nurses within residential aged care in NSW, found shifts led by a registered nurse often reduced unnecessary hospitalisations and increased the quality of clinical care within residential aged sites.
The Legislative Council Committee report confirms registered nurses are pivotal to the skill-mix of staffing in residential aged care facilities, particularly sites with high and complex care residents.
Brett Holmes, General Secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), welcomed tabling of the report and said he was hopeful the report’s 17 recommendations would be seriously considered by the NSW Government.
“Our aged care members are buoyed by the large number of detailed recommendations that have been put forward in the Upper House Committee’s report,” Mr Holmes said.
“The volume of evidence supporting the minimum requirement for registered nurses to be on duty around the clock in facilities with high care residents speaks for itself and the Committee has diligently outlined how it can be retained and strengthened at the Commonwealth level."
“It’s not good enough for the NSW Health Minister to continually divest herself of responsibility to the people of NSW – especially the elderly and frail who deserve a dignified journey through their final years,” Mr Holmes said.
More than 160 written submissions were made during the inquiry by community groups, local governments, aged care workers, relatives, health advocacy groups and aged care providers.
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley has confirmed rural and remote residential aged care is in her sights for reform and that she is in the process of developing a finance plan, however, no specific details were released.
The NSWNMA has submitted more than 24,000 signatures on a community petition to NSW Parliament to retain the legislative requirement for registered nurses in aged care and the associated requirements for directors in nursing.
The NSWNMA has vowed to continue lobbying on behalf of registered nurses, enrolled nurses and assistants in nursing in the aged care sector, to ensure residents receive the highest quality care.
Further details of the NSWNMA’s ongoing campaign can be found here.
This article was originally published by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Read the original article.