Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) CEO Patricia Sparrow has warned all Governments of further tragedy in the aged care sector if residents are not transferred immediately after positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
“Aged care homes are not hospitals,” said ACSA CEO Patricia Sparrow. “They are not staffed like hospitals. They are not funded like hospitals.”
Ms Sparrow says policies need to be revised now to protect aged care residents in the long term given the clusters and community transmission will likely continue for months to come.
“The idea that aged care homes could contain such a contagious and deadly virus without the unfettered support of the health system is ridiculous,” she cited.
While over 150 COVID positive aged care residents in Victoria have now been sent to hospital, Ms Sparrow says this should be happening as a preventative measure.
“It is just as important in order to stop the virus spreading to other residents and prevent tragedy,” she stated.
Given the daily death toll in Australia continues to be skewed towards aged care residents, will the Federal and Victorian Governments reconsider their policies?
