Shooters and Fishers MLC Robert Borsak has accused Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall of running “a fear campaign” against a bill to have registered nurses on duty in nursing homes at all times.
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Mr Borsak fired accusations at the MP after a whistleblower reportedly leaked information of “secret briefings” Mr Marshall had been giving to private nursing home operators, “coaching them in a media campaign to oppose the bill”.
But Mr Marshall said not only was he completely unaware of the email, but at the time the content was public knowledge.
“It wasn’t sent by me, written by me or received by me,” Mr Marshall said.
“But I’ve never supported it [the bill].
“It’s like mandating that every single hospital in the state must have an orthopedic surgeon even though in many hospitals there’s no orthopedic surgery,” he said.
Regional Aged Care and Community Services Organisation Chair, Sue Thomson also expressed her concerns about the bill and said if the legislation were to pass, it would pose a serious threat to the survival of small rural facilities.
“They would be gravely impacted because the funding provided to residential aged care facilities and particularly those in small rural and remote communities is not sufficient for them to afford to have registered nurses on 24 hours a day,” she said.
Ms Thompson told Fairfax Media it was also important to acknowledge where and when registered nurses are needed and, when they are not.
“In some facilities the care needs of those people being looked after do not require a registered nurse for 24 hours a day,” she said.
“The main debate with this is registered nurses have a hugely important role in the care of older people in Australia but it is important that people that require clinical services by clinicians have that service.
“What is not required is for registered nurses to provide personal care such as showering, bathing and so on – there’s a distinct difference.”
Ms Thomson said small facilities across the region such as those in Ashford and Barraba would be severely impacted and may not survive the financial implications if appointed a registered nurse 24/7.
Mr Borsak said he intended to introduce the bill, which has already gained support from the Upper House, into the Lower House for debate this week.
