VICTORIA’S nursing union says the government is racing to sell as many aged care beds as they can before the November election.
ABOUT 100 nurses have descended on Victoria’s parliament steps to protest the 805 public aged care beds earmarked for sale or closure by the Napthine government.
“We think the race is on to get as much signed and sold before the 29th of November,” Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick told reporters on Tuesday. The protesters are fighting to save the South Stone Lodge aged care facility in Werribee that is due for closure by the end of the year, the only mental health facility of its kind in Melbourne’s west. “We are expressing deep concern for the lack of consideration Melbourne Health and the Napthine government are demonstrating by closing another mental health facility,” Ms Fitzpatrick said. The nurses union is concerned that the sale of beds to private companies will lead to a lower standard of care with fewer nurses and specialist services. “Most critically we do know that the staffing levels in our private aged care sector are not as good,” Ms Fitzpatrick said. Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews addressed the crowd and pledged Labor’s commitment to halt the sale and closure of the sites if it wins the November election.