The Royal Commission returns next week – looking at NSW COVID-19 aged care outbreaks

The Commissioners will be examining the COVID-19 situation in aged care from Monday, 10 August to Thursday, 13 August, after announcing back in May that they would investigate the impact of the pandemic at the request of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Under the microscope will be the outbreaks at Newmarch House, Dorothy Henderson Lodge and Opal Care Bankstown and what more could have been done to support them.

“The purpose of the inquiry is not to find fault or apportion blame,” the Commissioners reiterated in a statement.

The hearing will also focus on

• the role and responsibilities of State, Territory and Federal governments
• what should be done and by whom in the future
• the balance between managing risks and maintaining the overall health and wellbeing of aged care recipients
• the measures taken by the health and aged care sectors to respond to the pandemic
• the impact of those measures on residents and their families; and
• challenges to management, workforce and access to PPE

However, the Royal Commission’s Chair Tony Pagone QC has made it clear the focus of the hearing will not be specifically on the Victorian response to the pandemic. Aged care accommodation will also be investigated from Thursday, 13 August to Friday, 14 August. Our editor Lauren Broomham will be covering off the hearings daily in our subscriber-only newsletter The Daily COMMISSION. To find out more about subscribing, click here.