Corona Virus

665 deaths is a Hell of a price to pay for cheap imported labour as far as I am concerned and this practice needs to stop NOW.

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Originally Posted by Arapiles

But then again, the Alfred Hospital took over management of the quarantine hotels - and promptly subcontracted floor management to the same casual security idiots that they were hired to replace and who had done such an appalling job in the first place. It was only on Wednesday that the police were moved in to remove the casual security subcontracted by the Alfred.

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Which episode of "Yes Minister" did that one spring from ?

- Script-writer from Monty Python high on modern drugs ?

Is there something in the Melbourne water supply that more than decimates IQ & (un) Common sense ? - apart from 'flouride', that is[bigwhistle]



Seriously, paraphrasing:- 'Those who forget mistakes of the past, are condemned to repeat them' - into current events;-

"Those who don't LEARN from what & why the world did in the last few months - are going to make a dog's breakfast of it Today."

- Want to pay off your mortgage ? - Take out a loan for another Land Rover? - Fix your current one ? Check out the graph for joblessness & previous recessions in the US. Compare them with now...
Facts about Covid-19 (archive) – Swiss Policy Research

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Originally Posted by superquag

Which episode of "Yes Minister" did that one spring from ?

- Script-writer from Monty Python high on modern drugs ?

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Coronavirus Victoria: Hotel quarantine guards stood down for Victoria Police as infection-control fears emerge


"The quarantine hotels are now overseen by the Department of Justice, and Alfred Health has been contracted to provide clinical services. Alfred Health subcontracted the floor monitor positions to Spotless."

And it was Spotless which was one of the three original security providers and 5 Spotless staff have tested positive since the hotel saga blew up in July.

Tonight it was announced that the body that is advising the government on how to handle the Covid 19 issue has recommended that the entire country go into the highest lock down level, i.e. level 5. This apparently came out of the blue and has taken the government by surprise.

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Originally Posted by spudfan

Tonight it was announced that the body that is advising the government on how to handle the Covid 19 issue has recommended that the entire country go into the highest lock down level, i.e. level 5. This apparently came out of the blue and has taken the government by surprise.

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Your nearest neighbour might have influenced that decision.

‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ May Not Work in a Time of Pandemic - The New York Times

Geez - what's level 5 over there? We are still in level 4 in Melbourne which is as high as it gets here.

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Originally Posted by Arapiles

Agreed.

For a few countries, including Australia, coronavirus has exposed serious societal problems. The stark differences - and different death rates - between the privatised but Commonwealth regulated nursing homes and the State run and non-profits is astonishing.

Australia, like Singapore and a few other countries in the region, has built its success on low paid, poorly protected migrant workers - and this is the result. Some were nominally here as "students" but the government's well aware that they're not.

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Privatisation, and the resultant cost cutting to maximise profits ,[ which is the private sectors primary aim]has resulted in patient care being a cost to be minimised. The policies of de-regulation, and an embrace of the 'free market ' have led to an erosion of standards of control over aged care in nursing homes. The traditional altruism and integrity of carers are eroded once aged care homes are placed in the hands of private capital.

It is a low paid job which depends on the altruism and dedication of staff. In a market system the focus on profits comes at the expense of dedication and altruism . It can be hard to maintain motivation in a system where your dedication is exploited not for residents in need but to provide management with large bonuses and uninterested share holders with large profits. Care and the community should be at the heart of any new system. The farming of our seniors for profit must be stopped .

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Originally Posted by bob10

Privatisation, and the resultant cost cutting to maximise profits ,[ which is the private sectors primary aim]has resulted in patient care being a cost to be minimised. The policies of de-regulation, and an embrace of the 'free market ' have led to an erosion of standards of control over aged care in nursing homes. The traditional altruism and integrity of carers are eroded once aged care homes are placed in the hands of private capital.

It is a low paid job which depends on the altruism and dedication of staff. In a market system the focus on profits comes at the expense of dedication and altruism . It can be hard to maintain motivation in a system where your dedication is exploited not for residents in need but to provide management with large bonuses and uninterested share holders with large profits. Care and the community should be at the heart of any new system. The farming of our seniors for profit must be stopped .

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Well said Bob.

I've been in and around aged care for a long time as an outside contractor, and my sister works at the coal face.

Even community owned and run facilities are run at minimal and sometimes below legal staffing levels.
The stress staff are under is immense and they burn through staff at a rapid rate.

One RN for 50-60 residents on day shifts is common. So in 7 hours of on job time that's around 8-9 minutes to do infection control for each resident. If one person is in serious condition they could require an hour of care, so others miss out.

One survey in Victoria found, from memory, that some aged care centres were taking in about $290 a day in income per resident, but only budgeting $5 a day to feed each person. Dinner was frozen party pies.

A relation of ours in Brisbane sold his house for about $550,000 five years ago after his wife died and moved into an aged care village earlier than he needed to, just to be sure of getting a place.
Five years later all his money is gone, they take all his pension and he doesn't have any cash at all, his family have to give him spending money.
Plus his health is shot, he is blind in one eye and the staff don't follow his doctor's directions.
Honestly, it's criminal neglect. I've told the family I'd rather die in a ditch than go into one of those places.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

One RN for 50-60 residents on day shifts is common. So in 7 hours of on job time that's around 8-9 minutes to do infection control for each resident. If one person is in serious condition they could require an hour of care, so others miss out.

One survey in Victoria found, from memory, that some aged care centres were taking in about $290 a day in income per resident, but only budgeting $5 a day to feed each person. Dinner was frozen party pies.

A relation of ours in Brisbane sold his house for about $550,000 five years ago after his wife died and moved into an aged care village earlier than he needed to, just to be sure of getting a place.
Five years later all his money is gone, they take all his pension and he doesn't have any cash at all, his family have to give him spending money.
Plus his health is shot, he is blind in one eye and the staff don't follow his doctor's directions.
Honestly, it's criminal neglect. I've told the family I'd rather die in a ditch than go into one of those places.

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It's sobering to think that without COVID it would have been business as usual. This must not be allowed to continue.