The National Health Services Union has strongly endorsed an open letter from Aged Care Minister Anika Wells to residential aged care providers, which calls out the sector’s lack of accountability.

National Secretary Lloyd Williams praised Minister Wells’ initiative: “This open letter is a crucial step towards addressing the longstanding issues in our aged care system. It’s precisely why we’ve been advocating for a legislated ‘workers voice’ in the Aged Care Act – a provision that was regrettably removed at the insistence of the Liberal Party.”

The Minister’s letter notes that from today, average care funding will be around 58% higher than it was in September 2022. A significant part of this increase has been to fund providers to increase their care minutes to an average of 215 minutes per resident per day.

Williams highlighted key concerns raised by the Minister:

1. The disproportionately low compliance rates in metropolitan areas, despite greater workforce constraints in regional, rural, and remote locations.
2. The significantly lower compliance rates among for-profit aged care providers compared to their not-for-profit counterparts.

“Never forget, it was workers who blew the whistle on the appalling operating conditions in aged care that led to residents being fed jelly and frankfurts and having sanitary pads rationed,” Williams said.

“Providers need accountability. We cannot allow profit motives to compromise the quality of care for our elderly citizens.”

The Health Services Union is committed to working alongside the government and responsible providers  to improve conditions in the aged care sector. “We stand ready to support any initiatives that enhance transparency, accountability, and most importantly, the quality of care for our seniors,” Williams said.