Tamworth nurses defend aged care

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) members, Independent candidate for New England, Tony Windsor and supporting organisations will gather in ANZAC Park tomorrow to raise awareness around the $1.2 billion aged care budget cuts and ongoing issues facing the industry.

NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Judith Kiejda said rather than cutting funding, the government needs to better regulate it to ensure support goes to residents and carers, not straight into the pockets of providers.

“Aged care is a lucrative business for the publicly listed companies that dominate the industry, so it’s important for the government to make sure funding provided by the taxpayer is spent appropriately” said Ms Kiejda.

“Rather than cutting $1.2 billion from complex care funding in the latest budget to help curb a predicted blowout in spending by providers, a future investment plan should be considered to serve in the interest of residents who need it most.

“The NSW government made the situation a whole lot worse when it advised of its intention to remove the legislative requirement to have a Registered Nurse on site 24/7 in high-care facilities. Taking funding away on a federal level and then allowing further deregulation on a state level is a recipe for disaster.

“We need federal candidates to step up this election and look at aged care as an important Commonwealth issue that affects all Australians. A better staffing mix and a more appropriate funding model is the right place to start.”

The NSWNMA has invited all election candidates to sign a pledge of commitment to four key funding and policy announcements in health and aged care, which include a commitment to registered nurses 24/7 in aged care, the restoration of the health funding agenda, support for our Medicare system and the protection of penalty rates.

WHEN: from 9:30am , 9 June 2016

WHAT: Interviews and photo opportunities with local aged care and public health nurses/Tony Windsor/local organisations supporting aged care

WHERE:  ANZAC Park, East Tamworth, NSW

Download this media release: Tamworth nurses defend aged care

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