Again, it’s all playing to a strategy. The Union says the ‘audit’, undertaken by nurses, residents’ family members and community volunteers across the state on Saturday, reported stories of delayed medical attention, underqualified staff and increased risks to residents as a result of understaffing.
In one case, a central Queensland resident was forced to wait for 48 hours for an ambulance after breaking a hip.
The QNU says registered nurses are being left to care for up to 200 residents at a time. It wants the Government to make it mandatory for a registered nurse to be rostered at all times.
Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt had told The Courier-Mail everyone working in aged care has a “public and moral obligation’’ to blow the whistle on abuse or neglect.
“When you have maladministration it has to be addressed. Board directors have a duty of care and an obligation to ensure incidents are dealt with appropriately,” he said.
Mr Wyatt also said he would like to see more “hands-on’’ training for aged-care workers.
“Then you know what you’re walking into in terms of the job, the compassion you require but also the consideration you have to give to the individual who is becoming frail.”
