Stephen Shirley, Chair of scandal-plagued Southern Cross Care Tasmania, resigns

The Chair of aged care provider, Southern Cross Care Tasmania, Stephen Shirley, has resigned, days after the Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, met with the regulator to discuss community concerns about the provider.

A fortnight ago, the Independent MP used parliamentary privilege to make a series of claims about the operator, the largest Not For Profit provider in Tasmania with nine aged care homes and nearly 1,000 residents.

Andrew said he had been told of “dangerously” low staffing levels, residents being forced to shower, toilet and dress themselves, poor quality food and care, and “consistently slow and dangerous bell response times”, The Mercury reported.

In a statement last week, Andrew said he met with Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson to discuss his concerns.

Last Friday, Stephen issued a statement saying he had resigned, stating the need for “generational change”.

The SOURCE: Southern Cross Care Tasmania has been receiving negative headlines for years. Stephen Shirley is the latest scalp.