The peak organisations for doctors and nurses held a press conference in Canberra yesterday to pressure the Government to act on reforms before the Royal Commission hands down its findings in November 2020.
The Commission had been due to report by 30 April 2020, but this was recently extended by six months to 12 November 2020 – over 12 months away.
“If the momentum is not utilised now, the AMA is concerned that older Australians, and Australians in general, will be the losers and that a great opportunity for real reform will have been lost,” AMA president Dr Tony Bartone said.
The campaign is based on a 53-page submission by the AMA – provided last Thursday to the Commission – which includes 42 recommendations covering all the Royal Commission’s Terms of Reference.
The recommendations include:
- A general funding increase for aged care;
- Registered nurses on site 24/7;
- Minimum staff to resident ratios;
- More Home Care Packages (HCPs)
Increasing the Medicare rebate – currently $55 on top of the standard $37.60 rebate – by more than 50% to compensate GP’s for the time and complexity involved in visiting aged care residents.
You can read the full submission HERE.
Pictured: AMA President Dr Toney Bartone and ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler.
