Report for review into aged care regulations rescheduled

The review was commissioned by the Government to determine why the Commonwealth’s aged care quality regulatory process did not identify the extent of failures and shortcomings of Commonwealth funded care in the Makk and McLeay wards at South Australia’s Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Service.

The review panel is also examining improvements to the regulatory system that would increase the likelihood of immediate detection, and swift remediation of failures in care providers.

Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt says the reporting timeframe for the review was being extended by four weeks following a request from the Chair of the Review, Ms Kate Carnell.

“Given the high level of interest shown by regulatory bodies, aged care consumers, industry and academics, it has become clear that more time is needed for the review,” Minister Wyatt says.

“The volume of information gathered during the consultation phase has exceeded expectations and due regard will be given to it.

“Extending the review will allow the panel sufficient time to consider all submissions and the intelligence gathered through these many conversations.”

To date, the review panel has convened 39 meetings with key contributors and has received over 400 public submissions.

Minister Wyatt reiterated that the health, safety and wellbeing of older people who reside in aged care services are of paramount importance to the Turnbull Government.

“Extending the reporting timeframe by four weeks will allow appropriate analysis of the aged care quality regulatory system’s processes, and I look forward to seeing the review outcomes,” he says.

The new due date for the report to be provided to Minister Wyatt is 29 September 2017.