HSU rally against aged care closure

Last Thursday, HSU aged care workers rallied to keep Newcastle's Wallsend Aged Care Facility open after fears the NSW government was closing it by stealth.

Hunter New England Local Health District (LHD) confirmed Wallsend Aged Care Facility had more than 60 per cent of beds available and had not taken a new resident in for more than two years.

Despite the evident demand for permanent residential aged care, more than two-thirds of the beds are sitting empty.

Several weeks ago, the LHD announced it would be closing one unit, consolidating the remaining residents onto one floor of the three-level building. 

Lynne Russell, assistant secretary and treasurer of HSU, said staff members of Wallsend were left with no answers amid fears that the LHD was quietly shutting it down.

"We've tried to get information from the LHD but, over the past two years, to no avail," Ms Russell said.

"We received absolutely no correspondence about what's happening, and members are concerned after the closure of another unit – which is why we rallied."

Ms Russell told Aged Care Insite that ten per cent of the public beds in Hunter New England hospitals were being taken up by aged care residents who could be at Wallsend instead. The current nursing shortages and increased demand for aged care facilities around the LHD have further strained the workers.

When questioned why there were so many empty beds and no new patients, Ms Russell said the LHD blamed workforce issues. 

"We can't see any real evidence that says they are actively recruiting staff or advertising to fill the beds," Ms Russell said.

"But I have no doubt they will say there is no workforce to support the aged care residents."

Although the HSU members at Wallsend are concerned about their job security, Ms Russell said there were worries about the remaining residents.

"It's a gem of the community. Residents came to the rally, and they were really heartbroken," she said.

"I hope the minister can assist us in keeping the facility open and look after the residents."

Greater Metropolitan Health Services executive director Karen Kelly told Aged Care Insite that no decisions have been made regarding Wallsend.

"There are a range of reasons for the current bed occupancy, including families' hesitancy to admit during COVID, residents transitioning to a community model of care through NDIS, less contemporary design of the facility, and some of our older residents sadly passing away," Ms Kelly said.

"We have also not received any new applications since 2020."

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