The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) will take a “fair and sensible” approach to regulating the 24/7 RN requirements in residential aged care, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson told a recent webinar.

Janet said the Commission understands not all homes will be able to meet the 24/7 requirement due to workforce shortages but said “it’s unlikely we will take enforcement action” in these circumstances.

“We will look at the efforts you are making, and continue to make, to recruit nurses in relation to the cover responsibility,” Janet told attendees.

“We will also consider what alternative arrangements you have in place to ensure the care needs, including the clinical care needs, of all your residents, are being met.

“Instead, we will keep monitoring that service, their efforts and their performance.”

The same expectations apply to exempt services, Janet said.

If the Commission does believe there are higher risks, and that they are not being addressed in a timely manner, they “won’t hesitate” to escalate regulatory action, the Commissioner said.

The Commission’s Chief Clinical Advisor, Dr Melanie Wroth, described alternative clinical care arrangements, such as ensuring there is a clear arrangement to receive immediate advice from an RN off-site at all relevant times, and considering how palliative care or pain needs will be met when an RN is not on site.

You can view the webinar here.