The ABC investigative journalist has continued the national broadcaster’s aged care investigation – this time with a report on the aged care regulator’s role in monitoring providers’ infection controls.
The reporter speaks to family members whose relatives passed away from the virus in aged care, noting that the Quality and Safety Commission had previously given a number of facilities which experienced major outbreaks had either not been visited in recent years (homes are assessed every three years) or had been assessed, full marks.
The report also reveals that the regulator has visited just 30 of the 220 aged care homes with coronavirus outbreaks – around 13%. This includes 14 services in Victoria, nine in NSW, four in Queensland and three in Tasmania.
Of the homes with positive cases, 20 aged care homes have been sanctioned – less than 10% of those homes with outbreaks. Only six were visited in person by the Quality and Safety Commission.
Ms Anderson responded to the ABC with a statement pointing out that site visits are only one of the methods used to monitor providers – and that it may not be safe for the Commission to visit until an outbreak is over.
The regulator has also come in for criticism over its perceived lack of oversight in a separate story from The Australian – on top of this story from last week.
Is it fair however? We will discuss in greater detail in Thursday’s issue of the SOURCE.
