There should be greater scrutiny of COVID-19 deaths in aged care, says Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie.
More than 3,000 aged care residents have died with COVID-19 this year, almost triple the number of aged care deaths in the first two years of the pandemic and 75% of all aged care deaths since the start of the pandemic.
“If we look back at the last parliament, there were questions asked every day of the aged care minister,” Ms Sharkie (above) told the ABC on Sunday.
“While we haven’t sat many weeks this year, we’re just not seeing the scrutiny.
“I think that it’s imperative upon every member of parliament, including myself, to hold the government to account with respect to this.”
The most recent Department of Health data shows there are outbreaks in 278 aged care homes, with more than 1,200 resident cases infected with the virus. Nearly 400 residential aged care staff currently have COVID-19.
"If that was last year, it would have been on the front of every newspaper, every day,” Ms Sharkie said.
The government should be explaining to the public how aged care homes are being supported through repeated COVID-19 outbreaks and what is being done about ventilation and staff shortages, she said.
“COVID has not ended. The pandemic is still with us,” Ms Sharkie said.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells (pictured) said the government’s winter plan to manage aged care’s response to COVID-19 and continued access to antiviral treatments and vaccination has dropped the case fatality rate in aged care from 33% in 2020 to 3.5% this year.
The government has also extended the ADF’s role in aged care until the end of September.
The surge workforce filled 1,704 shifts last week.
