Eventide Brighton closure update: more than 1800 aged care places at risk
Published: 22 October 2012
More than 1800 State Government-owned aged care places, including nearly 1500 high care places at 20 residential facilities, across Queensland could be lost if the State Government continues with its program of closing down aged care services, the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) said today.
The 20 State Government-owned residential facilities are (Source – Qld Health website):
| Aged care planning region | Local Government Area | High care places | Low care places |
| Brisbane North | Zillmere (Ashworth House) | 60 | 0 |
| Brisbane North | Brighton (Eventide) | 224 | 0 |
| Brisbane South | Wynnum West (Moreton Bay NCU) | 129 | 0 |
| Brisbane South | Cleveland (Redlands RC) | 125 | 0 |
| Cabool | Kippa-Ring (Cooinda House) | 60 | 0 |
| Darling Downs | Jondaryan (S) (Dr McDonald House) | 71 | 0 |
| Darling Downs | Dalby (T) (Karingal) | 80 | 0 |
| Darling Downs | Murilla (S) (Milton House) | 14 | 0 |
| Darling Downs | Toowoomba (C) (Mt Lofty) | 40 | 0 |
| Darling Downs | Warwick (S) (The Oaks) | 40 | 0 |
| Fitzroy | Rockhampton (C) (North Rockhampton) | 80 | 0 |
| Fitzroy | Rockhampton (C) (Eventide) | 100 | 0 |
| Northern | Charters Towers (C) (Eventide) | 120 | 0 |
| Northern | Kirwan (Parklands) | 70 | 0 |
| South West | Murweh (S) (Wahroona) | 26 | 19 |
| South West | Roma (T) (Westhaven) | 40 | 0 |
| Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast (Nambour Hosp NH) | 45 | 0 |
| Wide Bay | Kingaroy (S) (Fairholme NH) | 16 | 0 |
| Wide Bay | Wondai (S) (Forrest View) | 46 | 0 |
| Wide Bay | Maryborough (C) (Yaralla Place) | 96 | 0 |
| Total | 1482 | 19 |
Another 59 community and “aged care at home places” are at risk in Mount Isa, McKinlay, Rockhampton, Millerran and Warwick.
A big question mark also hangs over places at the following rural hospitals and Multi-Purpose Services:
| Aged care planning region | Local Government Area | Community care places | High care places | Low care places |
| Central West | Barcaldine (S) | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Central West | Winton (S) | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Darling Downs | Inglewood (S) | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Darling Downs | Millmerran (S) | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Darling Downs | Inglewood (S) | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| Far North | Cook (S) | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Far North | Douglas (S) | 12 | 22 | 7 |
| Far North | Weipa (T) | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Fitzroy | Jericho (S) | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Fitzroy | Banana (S) | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Fitzroy | Duaringa (S) | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Fitzroy | Bauhinia (S) | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| Fitzroy | Banana (S) | 13 | 9 | 10 |
| Fitzroy | Woorabinda (S) | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| Mackay | Belyando (S) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
| North West | Cloncurry (S) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Northern | Bowen (S) | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| South West | Murweh (S) | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| South West | Balonne (S) | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| South West | Booringa (S) | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| South West | Balonne (S) | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| South West | Quilpie (S) | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| Wide Bay | Biggenden (S) | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Wide Bay | Isis (S) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Wide Bay | Eidsvold (S) | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Wide Bay | Mundubbera (S) | 0 | 12 | 7 |
| MPS totals | 106 | 193 | 119 |
QNU secretary, Beth Mohle, said despite the State Government trying to hide behind unelected hospital and health boards, it is clear from the budget papers the State Government is driving this agenda and is committed to its State-wide implementation:
They (Hospital and Health Boards) will also be able to seek opportunities to work with the private sector to more efficiently deliver aged care. (Source: 2012-13 Queensland State Budget – Service Delivery Statements – Minister for Health, page 3.)
“There is little doubt last week’s shock announcement by the Metro North Hospital and Health Board that 140 high care places will initially be closed at Eventide Brighton, with a loss of 120 jobs including nearly 100 nurses, is only the start of a Statewide process.
“The Metro North Board itself has already flagged the closure of two other facilities within its jurisdiction - Ashworth House at Zillmere and Cooinda House (Cabool) at Kippa-Ring. The published data indicates Eventide Brighton has a total of 224 licensed high-care beds, while Ashworth House and Cooinda House have 60 high-care beds each.
“This is a major issue for many families and communities across Queensland. Many of these residents are amongst the most complex aged care residents being cared for in the State. There are also a lot of questions to be answered about the ongoing availability of sufficient aged care places, especially in rural and regional communities where aged care services have often been in short supply.
“The issue is so serious that I will be raising it as a campaigning priority at tomorrow’s Queensland Council of Union’s executive meeting in Mackay. It is especially concerning that there was no consultation with stakeholders and the community prior to the Metro North decision being made.
“In fact, the LNP State Government has actually legislated recently to remove the need for consultation with staff and their unions prior to such significant decisions being made. The QNU will not accept such legislative tyranny without a fight. We confronted the unjust WorkChoices laws and we will confront these unjust State laws as well. We will work closely with local communities to ensure there is greater openness about such policies and decisions. That is why we are today warning communities around the State about what could be coming.
“Our Metro North action in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission will also continue later in the week and QNU officials will continue to meet with distressed staff at the Metro North facilities today and throughout the week,” Ms Mohle said.
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