CORONAVIRUS —
AGED-CARE FACILITIES
262. Hon SIMON O'BRIEN to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
My question was addressed to the
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Seniors and Ageing, but I understand
it has been redirected to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister
for Health.
I refer to the restrictions that
have now been placed on visits to aged-care facilities in Western Australia, as
announced by the Minister for Seniors and Ageing this morning.
(1) What is the number of aged-care
facility residents in Western Australia?
(2) Is there some
discretionary judgement available to facility management, for example, to
permit more than one visit in a day to an individual resident?
(3) As distinct
from visitors to a facility, what restrictions, if any, apply to the residents
of aged-care facilities and, specifically, are residents restricted from going
out on visits and then returning either —
(a) absolutely;
(b) subject to restrictions upon
return; or
(c) not at all?
Hon ALANNA
CLOHESY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) As at 30 June
2019, there were 20 535 permanent residential aged-care residents in WA and 3 470
respite residential aged-care residents in WA.
(2) Following
agreement by national cabinet, comprising the Prime Minister and state leaders,
restrictions have now been placed on visits to aged-care facilities in Western Australia
to enhance protections of our staff and residents in aged-care facilities. Advice
for visitors is as follows: limit visits to a short duration; limit visits to a maximum of two immediate social
supports—family members, close friends—or professional service
or advocacy at one time, per day. Additional visitors may be granted access in
exceptional circumstances and visitors who present with fever or flu-like
symptoms will not be admitted. Measures such
as phone or video calls must be accessible to all residents to enable more
regular communication with family members. For the latest advice, visit
https://www.health.gov.au.
(3) (a)–(c) There are
currently no restrictions on residents going out on visits and then returning.