July 9, 2017
Southern Cross Care (Qld) has blamed Federal Government funding changes for staff cuts which it is implementing across its 11 properties in Queensland – a claim Federal MP David Littleproud denies.
Southern Cross operates Castra in Murgon and Karinya in Nanango.
CEO Peter Bell said recent changes to the Federal Government’s funding of aged care had forced Southern Cross to review its operations.
“As a not-for-profit provider of aged care, Southern Cross Care takes great pride in the service it delivers, but even not-for-profit providers have to ensure ongoing operations are sustainable,” Mr Bell said.
“Accordingly, Southern Cross Care has been forced to review staffing rosters across all centres to ensure that the organisation is providing best practice levels of care with the level of efficiency required to ensure they can continue.
“The aged care sector has undergone many changes in recent times and Southern Cross Care must evolve and review our operations to remain sustainable and ensure our continued quality care services.”
Mr Bell said Southern Cross Care had been consulting with employees, residents and unions in relation to the introduction of new rosters.
“The new rosters adopt average staffing levels identified through an industry benchmarking survey of over 750 not-for-profit aged care facilities, ” Mr Bell said.
“Residents care will not be compromised and I am determined to ensure this will not happen.”
However, Maranoa MP David Littleproud said Southern Cross Care had not had any Federal Government cuts to funding.
“I must emphasise there’s been no Federal Government funding cuts to Southern Cross Care,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The Federal Government does not mandate roster hours or staffing levels in aged care facilities.
“The staffing level and mix is left to the provider but – under the Aged Care Act 1997 – the provider must provide appropriate levels of care to meet the nursing and personal needs of the residents.
“I’ve made urgent representations to Southern Cross Care seeking an explanation as to what the provider’s decision means for its three facilities (Allora, Chinchilla and Nanango) in my electorate.”
Changes to aged care funding arrangements were announced by the Federal Government in the 2016-17 Budget and most of these came into effect on January 1.
One of the changes was an indexation freeze on all Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) subsidies in 2017–18 and a 50 per cent indexation pause to the Complex Health Care funding in 2018–19.
Southern Cross Care is a not-for-profit organisation established by the Knights of the Southern Cross, an Australia-wide organisation of lay Catholic men.
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