NZ Aged Care Association

Labour Party follows Nurses' Union and misses the point on Aged Care

The Labour Party’s Aged Care policy released today by Steve Chadwick has ignored the findings of a 2010 national review into the Aged Care sector and instead proposes policies they rejected themselves when in Government.

The policy also mirrors the Nurses' union 'Aged Care Charter' released to Parliament today and which also ignores the critical issues facing the sector.

The New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA) yesterday rejected the Nurses' union charter and the Association's Chief Executive, Martin Taylor, said it was unfortunate that the Labour Party had also ignored the findings of the 2010 review, which was jointly carried out by the NZACA and District Health Boards.

"The Labour Party’s Aged Care policy fails to address the major issue facing the Aged Care sector. Instead, its policy closely mirrors the charter released by the Nurses’ union," Mr Taylor said.

It is the view of the NZACA, economists and health sector groups that New Zealand will face a major crisis in the provision of aged care services including an imminent shortage of beds as a result of a rapidly aging population. There is widespread agreement on this and yet the Labour Party ignores this fact.

When in Government in 2003, the Labour Party refused to bring in mandatory staffing ratios, but it now seems to be an idea that's found favour with them while in Opposition, Mr Taylor said

The Labour Party has also followed the union's call proposing taxpayer-funded training and education programmes for the sector. In doing so, they ignore the reality that the Aged Residential Care Contract has mandatory education requirements and the sector currently has level 2, 3 and 4 NZQA-recognised training programmes.

"The reality is that future governments will have to allocate millions of dollars to encourage private sector investors to build modern new facilities and increase the number of beds in order to meet the demand from a rapidly aging population," Mr Taylor said.

The NZACA has long called for pay parity between the public and private health sectors. The only bright spot in both the union's and the Labour Party's policies is that they follow our Association's considered opinion on this matter, Mr Taylor said.

Our earlier press release on the Nurses' union's Aged Care Charter can be found here: http://spinitwide.com/view/nzno-charter-misses-the-point

ENDS

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