Last Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected Counsel Assisting’s call for a national coordinated response to coronavirus outbreaks in aged care at the Royal Commission – pointing to the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre as a solution. This week – a change of tune.
The Australian is reporting that National Cabinet will agree to the urgent creation of aged care rapid response centres in all States and Territories in an effort to prevent further outbreaks around the country.
Taking lessons from the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, the national coordinated teams will be made up of federal and state emergency management, the Australian Defence Force, clinical support, infection control specialists and medical experts, including geriatricians and specialist aged-care nurses.
Their main role will be to facilitate the prevention of outbreaks and if there are positive cases, to deploy the resources necessary to stop further infection and cover workers in isolation.
It is understood that the Prime Minister – who said he was “deeply sorry” for the failures of the nation’s aged care system on Friday – has agreed with the State and Territory leaders to fast-track the opening of these centres.
The paper also reports that National Cabinet will be looking at face-to-face infection control training rather than online modules, mandatory use of face masks by aged care staff, and an audit of emergency response capabilities in all States and Territories at this Friday’s meeting.
Watch this space then.
