Southern Cross Care Yaraandoo: Safety and Quality Commission Called In
10 February 2023
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch are appalled by the state of staffing at Southern Cross Care Tasmania’s (SCCT) Yaraandoo facility in the State’s North West, following the announcement of a change proposal to shift to a household model of care, eradicating Enrolled Nurses from their facilities across the State.
This has had a dire impact on SCCT Yaraandoo facility with many Registered Nurses and Clinical Care Managers leaving along with Enrolled Nurses who have had enough of working for the facility.
For years, SCCT have largely ignored concerns raised by Nursing and Care Staff about insufficient staffing, workloads and the risk this poses to residents.
‘The failures by SCCT to ensure appropriate workloads and sufficient staffing, which are nowhere near the required 200 care minutes due by October this year, along with their latest proposal to eradicate Enrolled Nurses from the facility means SCCT’s Yaraandoo facility is unable to safely staff the facility.’
SCCT is severely compromising resident care. Residents were unable to access S8 narcotics after 6pm on an evening last week due to no Registered or Enrolled Nurses rostered on and available onsite, resulting in a failure to manage an acutely unwell patient.’
Following reports to the Safety and Quality Commission an unannounced visit was made to the facility for an audit against the safety and quality standards.
‘It is absolutely appalling following a Royal Commission into the safety and quality of residents in a residential aged care setting, that staffing levels and continued staff turn over at this facility are compromising the quality and safety of residents.’
This comes as SCCT push forward with another round of consultation on their household model of care, with SCCT acknowledging in the Fair Work Commission that the initial round was insufficient.
If successful, the new model of care proposed by SCCT would see all Enrolled Nurses eradicated from their workforce, further compromising resident care.
‘SCCT are attempting to eradicate Enrolled Nurses by stealth through stretching out a consultation period which is extremely stressful on everyone, particularly Enrolled Nurses, many of whom are leaving SCCT due to being in perpetual limbo.’
‘This move is also affecting Registered Nurses who are leaving the facility in droves due to the increased workload and high-risk environment created as Enrolled Nurses leave the nursing team at SCCT.’
SCCT will continue to hold consultation sessions on their household model of care. The ANMF are encouraging residents and their families to join the consultation sessions and call for SCCT to abandon their proposed household model of care immediately, before any further risks to residents arise.
The ANMF will be holding a community forum in Hobart on Friday 17 February 2023 at ANMF offices at 182 Macquarie Street 4.30-5.30pm. Residents, families and community members are invited discuss their concerns with SCCT and the need for mandated Enrolled Nursing minutes for Residential Aged Care with the ANMF, Federal Sitting MP’s and Senators.
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au