Seniors deserve answers for Adam Marshall’s betrayal
The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party has been trying to reinstate a requirement for nursing home residents to have access to a registered nurse - but National Party Minister Adam Marshall has been preparing a secret campaign to stop it.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Robert Borsak called on National Party Minister and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall to explain his involvement in a fear campaign against moves to keep registered nurses in nursing homes.
This comes after the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party bill to reinstate this 46-year requirement for aged care (after it was inadvertently removed by Federal legislation in 2015) was passed unanimously in the Upper House.
“Adam Marshall’s behaviour in trying to kybosh this bill is absolutely disgraceful,” Mr Borsak said.
“My office was leaked an email written by senior employees at major rural aged care provider, McLean Care, that show that Nationals Minister Adam Marshall has been running a fear campaign against my bill.
“For almost half a century, our elderly have been able to sleep soundly at night knowing that a registered nurse is watching over them if they are in a nursing home, but Mr Marshall obviously doesn’t want to see that happen.
"Seniors deserve answers for Adam Marshall’s betrayal. He must explain himself, and why he has been whipping up a fear campaign among private nursing home operators. Given that this bill unanimously passed the Upper House today, Mr Marshall’s actions contravene the policy of his own party."
Mr Borsak said that registered nurses are vital in nursing homes.
“My colleague Philip Donato intends to introduce this bill in the Lower House for debate next week. Seniors need certainty.
“Keeping at least one registered nurse on staff 24/7 is not an onerous requirement, and has three benefits:
- A registered nurse can administer pain relief medications stronger than a paracetamol (Panadol) tablet.
- Registered nurses prevent unnecessary hospital admissions by being able to respond quickly to critical incidents.
- They know when to administer medications and when not to, such as withholding a blood pressure lowering medication when blood pressure is already low.”
“I look forward to a day when our elderly in nursing homes will be treated with the dignity and level of expert care they deserve."
The leaked email showing preparations for Adam Marshall's fear campaign is available here:
Adam Marshall is yet to publicly explain himself and whether he supports seniors having access to a registered nurse in a nursing home.
