Vulnerable elderly Australians are at risk of preventable death due to dangerously low staffing levels as the Omicron Covid-19 variant spreads through private aged care facilities,
So says the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, which is demanding immediate action from the federal government to prevent "further suffering and devastation".
According to a new survey being conducted by the union, "many frontline nurses and carers working in aged care are stretched so thin they are burning out and experiencing moral distress, as there is just not enough staff to attend to residents' basic needs".
"Some are now left contemplating leaving their jobs,"
The national survey, which opened in January and closes on February 2, asks ANMF members to share their workplace experiences during the pandemic, exploring issues such as current workloads; exposure to COVID; access to vaccinations, testing (RAT and PCR) and personal protective equipmen.
Preliminary results released by the union include :
- More than 58% of participants said their workplace had experienced a COVID-19 outbreak;
- 20% said they were planning to leave their position within the next 12 months and 38% of participants said they are planning to leave their current position within the next 1-5 years
- 40% of staff worked double shifts;
- 25% of participants said their employer asked them to cancel/delay planned leave or return to work from leave.
One respondent to the survey said: "I have had to work several night shifts with only two care workers and one RN to over 100 residents. During a recent red zone lockdown I had to care for over 60 residents by myself during two night shifts. I was exhausted and only paid $23-$35 per hour.
"I'm very saddened that night shifts are taking on the heaviest loads having to do laundry and kitchen work and their usual work during a 10pm-6am shift."
ANMF assistant federal secretary Lori-Anne Sharp said of the survey: "It paints a picture of the country's private aged care system at breaking point,
"Appropriate staffing is at the heart of quality care and there is simply not enough staff to meet residents' basic care needs."
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