“This is a seismic shift across the Australian healthcare landscape,” said Zonda Group director Cameron Fancourt.
“You can’t blame healthcare professionals for seeking out higher wages in the aged care sector, which was long overdue, but this exodus from acute care could create a serious void in our hospitals,” said Fancourt.
“We’ve been dealing with this exodus on a daily basis since the pay rises were announced, and it’s being compounded now by serious cost-of-living pressures.”
The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine conducted a survey earlier this year, which showed a serious shortfall of staffing in emergency departments, with average national shortfalls of 28 percent for specialist trainee roles and 30 percent for junior medical officers.
A coordinated national strategy is needed to address the challenges arising from the "Great Shift" to safeguard the integrity of both the aged care and acute care sectors while ensuring optimal patient care across the healthcare system, according to Fancourt.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the aged care pay rises were worth between $7,100 and $10,000 a year per worker and was an “investment” to ensure there was enough staff for the rapidly growing sector. Fancourt said with overtime and shift loading, the pay rises could be worth double that amount.
Unions are pushing for an extra 10 percent on top of the already-awarded 15 percent pay rise.
Treasury estimates suggest a full 25 per cent pay increase would attract about 5 to 10 percent more people to the 365,000-person aged care workforce. The Federal Government funded the pay rise as a much-needed boost for the aged care sector, which had long grappled with issues of understaffing and quality of care.
"In healthcare, we are at a crossroads where financial incentives must be balanced with the critical need for specialised skills in our emergency and intensive care units,” said Fancourt.
"Aged care plays an essential role in our healthcare system, but we must ensure that the expertise and experience built in acute care are not lost. It's a delicate equilibrium that must be maintained.
“As specialists move to aged care for pay rises, our emergency rooms and ICUs face the risk of understaffing.
“Physicians, nurses, and support staff who have long been the backbone of critical care units are now looking to shift into a domain that promises not only financial rewards but also a perceived respite from the high-stress environment of the ICU and ER.”
Fancourt said a coordinated national policy could help mitigate these challenges by addressing these issues:
- Balancing Financial Incentives and Specialised Skills: Striking a balance between financial incentives and the critical need for specialised skills in ICUs and ERs.
- Retaining Expertise: Introducing measures to retain the expertise of healthcare professionals within the acute care sector through competitive salary packages, improved working conditions, and professional development opportunities.
- Skill Maintenance: Outlining mechanisms for healthcare professionals who transition to aged care to maintain their skills and stay updated with the latest medical knowledge. This might include mandatory training or re-certification programs.
- Collaboration with Stakeholders: Policymakers should collaborate closely with healthcare providers, professional associations, unions, and other stakeholders to ensure that the policy addresses the concerns and needs of all parties involved.
- Education and Awareness: The policy should include initiatives to educate healthcare professionals about the long-term implications of switching from acute care to aged care. This could involve awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of maintaining specialised skills and expertise.
According to Fancourt, acute care specialists also need to be aware that if they exit ICUs and ERs for long enough, it will be difficult for them to return as their medical knowledge and practical skills will be out of date.
"This exodus highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy that not only acknowledges the dedication of aged care workers but also ensures that our acute care units remain well-equipped with the specialised skills necessary for saving lives."
