Private members bill calls for 24/7 registered nurses in aged care

The Aged Care Amendment (Registered Nurses Ensuring Quality Care) Bill 2021, was scheduled to be introduced by Senator Rex Patrick today September 1.

There is currently no national law requiring registered nurses to be rostered in nursing homes 24/7.

In welcoming Senator Patrick's Bill, Australian Nurses and Midwives Association federal assistant secretary, Lori-Anne Sharp said its members were asking why the Morrison Government had still not implemented one of the Royal Commission's key recommendations to ensure a registered nurse on site at all times.

"We applaud Senator Patrick for standing-up for older Australians and the nurses and carers who care for them," Ms Sharp said today.

"The implementation of safe nurse staffing levels and mandated minimum staff time, as recommended by the Aged Care Royal Commission, will address the chronic understaffing in the aged care sector. It will stop the neglect and suffering of vulnerable residents who are not receiving the care they deserve.

"A national law requiring a registered nurse to be on shift 24 hours per day in nursing homes is not too much to ask. We ask all Federal senators to support this new bill and the ANMF's ongoing fight to address the failures in the aged care system."

Senator Patrick said "residents, their families, the aged care workforce and the wider Australian community cannot wait any longer" for the Royal Commission's recommendation for nurse ratios to be introduced by July 1, 2024.

"I'm concerned aged care residents are not getting the care they need, and the care is varied depending on where they are located across Australia. The inconsistent approach leads to variations in the level of care and quality provided to residents. Proper care for our elderly is critical and it requires aged care homes to have registered nurses on site at all times," Senator Patrick said.

Last week in the House of Representatives, Dr Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, put forward a private member's motion which also called on the Federal Government to mandate nursing levels and for a range of other reforms to improve aged care, particularly in rural and regional areas.