The Not For Profit provider says it will maintain all care hours at its aged care homes while Victoria is in a State of Emergency following criticism from the Victorian Branch of the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF).
The ANMF attacked the move however, with the Victorian Branch Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick saying the cuts amounted to around 500 hours from the fortnightly roster at its 144-bed Bendigo home.
“The Federal Government must today direct Royal Freemasons to stop cutting nursing and care hours,” she wrote last week in an op-ed on their website.
CEO Kerri Rivett (formerly the CEO at Shepparton Villages and pictured above) had issued a letter to families advising the board had undertaken a roster review to ensure the organisation stayed sustainable into the future.
“I understand this can be unsettling for residents and staff; however, every effort has been made to adapt rosters to meet care needs and minimise the impact on staff,” she wrote.
The changes increased rostered hours at some homes and decreased hours at others, based on the home and resident needs.
Royal Freemasons now tells us that they have decided that current care hours will remain for the time being.
“Although there are sound reasons for the new roster, as an organisation we understand that it has caused concern in the community, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Rivett said in a statement.
“The last thing we would want to do is cause stress for our hard-working staff, residents, family members and the community at this time.”
“This means that any staff member whose hours would have been reduced under the new roster will retain their present hours.”
