THE BID BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO TRANSFER …

… AGED CARE RESIDENTS FROM THE JAMES SCOTT WING AT THE NORTH EASTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INTO PRESBYTERIAN CARE TASMANIA’S HANDS HAS FAILED, FOLLOWING PRESBYETERIAN CARE TASMANIA’S SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT SIGNALLING THE CLOSURE OF THEIR SCOTTSDALE FACILITY.

Negotiations around the transfer of the elderly residents of the James Scott Wing in Scottsdale have been ongoing for many years, as the Department of Health and Human Services has pursued its firm commitment to ending its connection to aged care facilities. The only possible contender for the transfer from public into private hands was Presbyterian Care Tasmania (PCT), who run Aminya, a facility for approximately 25 residents in Scottsdale.

Up until recently the only major obstacles to the transfer appeared to be around issues such as lease holding and crown land regulations, as industrial negotiations had been successful.

Staff had accepted the transfer process, expressions of interest had gone out in relation to jobs, and there was widespread community support for sensitively managing the transfer of residents. “Workers were surprised when Presbyterian Care Tasmania withdrew from discussions regarding the transfer in early May – but we can only describe the announcement of the closure of Aminya as a bombshell,” said Joanne McEvoy, Lead Organiser for the Health and Community Services Union.

“There are 50 people currently working at Aminya, caring for 23 residents. The James Scott Wing already has 20 residents, with a maximum capacity of 29. They do not currently have the capacity to accept the residents of Aminya, and the only way they could would be with government investment.

“This is a huge blow for the Scottsdale community. If the Government does not intervene, residents will be sent to other aged care facilities, which will be in Launceston.

“There are so many issues created by the closure of Aminya. Scottsdale as a community will be shattered by further job losses. Residents will be devastated to leave their hometown, their friendship networks and the close proximity of their families.

“And last but not least, the families of residents will be exhausted by having to commute to see their loved ones. Many of the family members are themselves seniors, and the additional strain of driving for hours on end to see their elderly relatives is both unfair and unsafe.

“This is an example of why privatisation is not a good solution for Tasmania. It is vital to retain a level of public funding across all health and community sectors, for just these instances.

This is a community suffering an aged care crisis, and we call on the state and federal Governments to step up and save Scottsdale seniors.”
Joanne McEvoy, Lead Organiser for the Health and Community Services Union.