For a little over a decade the future of Wallsend Aged Care facility has been uncertain.
The facility was originally an almost 100-bed facility across three floors, one being a dementia- specific ward, and the other two consisting of aged care and NDIS residents.
Over the years, as residents moved to other facilities or passed away, the number of residents declined, and then we went through the pandemic. Since the pandemic, we have had no new admissions and now we are down to one floor with 25 residents.
On 22 February, Hunter New England Health told families and staff that the facility would be closing for good. This change will affect around 40 nursing staff and since the announcement, NSWNMA members have been in regular discussions with HR about what our options are for redeployment.
But many questions remain unanswered by the LHD. What options will nurses get about where they are redeployed? What entitlements do we have to retrain for, and will we get mentoring for new roles?
Some staff are also close to retirement and would prefer redundancy, which HR has stated would not be offered. Staff are not only concerned about their own future, but also the future of our residents. Many residents are high-risk mental health patients or have suffered traumatic brain injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
Once our facility closes, many of these residents will be left in limbo and will fall into a crack in our healthcare system, with limited options for long-term, appropriate care, support services or housing options. For some residents, Wallsend Aged Care has been their home for over 25 years. The closure of the facility has been a very stressful time for staff, patients and their families, and we just want to know where we stand.
Sharee Murphy, EN