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Frail and aged people in the Wide Bay region have again been sacrificed to Labor’s economic incompetence, with only 140 aged care beds set aside for possible funding in the 2009-2010 Aged Care Approvals Round.
This is the second year in a row the Government’s national debt binge has cost the region the number of aged care beds it desperately needs, according to Federal Member for Hinkler Paul Neville.
“Not surprisingly, the government has again failed to look after the elderly living in regional areas,” he said.
“Somehow, it has managed to lower its own bar by only setting aside 140 aged care beds for an area covering Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and hinterland areas stretching from Monto down to Kingaroy.
“With its older age profile the Wide Bay region needs more beds, not fewer, and it seems this government simply cannot deliver them.”
Mr Neville also doubts the region will receive the beds it has been promised.
“Based on receiving only 120 of last year’s promised 200 beds, it is hard to be optimistic about the full 140 beds being delivered next time around.
“Also, given the Department’s own target of at least 60 to 80 beds being the basis for a viable facility, all those 140 beds can deliver is top-ups, or two new facilities – hardly enough for three cities in a big region.
“In the home care field, the Wide Bay region should receive 20 Community Aged Care Packages. This is hardly enough for three cities and numerous country communities.
“However I welcome the 45 Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) Packages and 30 EACH (Dementia) Packages planned for the region and hope that all will be delivered.”
Mr Neville said the outlook for Queensland overall was grim.
“Under the last round, the State was promised 2,416 beds but only received 1,605. This time around Queensland has been allocated 2,003 beds, but I predict that nowhere near that number will hit the ground,” he said.
“There’s a second side to this, and that is that local government needs to be more accommodating in helping nursing home providers get their facilities planned and approved. One of the complaints I receive from providers and potential providers is the complexity and slowness of approvals.
“We have more seniors needing a bed than ever before and regional centres simply don’t have the capacity to cope if the beds aren’t in place. Already far too many Australians are travelling hundreds of kilometres to the nearest vacant aged care bed, and it’s hard to believe the Government is happy to see this continue.”
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