After more than two years of hearings, findings from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety were delivered today – but the public won’t see the final report until next week.

Commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs will deliver their long-awaited findings to the Governor-General today, but it won’t be made public until the Morrison Government tables it in parliament next week.

Although the government will receive a copy of the report today, Health Minister, Greg Hunt told reporters, “we will review it carefully over the weekend”.

“We will release the report and provide an interim response by the middle of next week”.

The report is anticipated to be over a thousand pages and include over a hundred recommendations.

The Commission heard evidence from health experts, consumer advocates, aged care residents and nurses working in the sector.

Through 99 days of formal hearings and 10,000 public submissions, it heard stories of severe understaffing and under-resourcing in the sector, leading to inadequate care.

The Commission’s interim report, released in October 2019 was titled “Neglect”, and provided some insight into the contents of the final report.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is advocating for:

• Legal minimum staffing and the right mix of skills
• Transparency and accountability for government funding
• Mandatory ongoing skills development, paid for by the employer (including infection control and ongoing professional development)
• Government funding linked to direct care and staff wages

To sign up to the campaign, visit the website.