The funding arrangements have shifted for the 15 nursing home beds at Gloucester Health Service’s Narraweema ward, from the State Government to the Commonwealth, which provides some scope for change.

According to Lower Mid North Coast Cluster Manager Ken Hampson, the change won’t be noticed by patients or carers, but will mean some ‘behind the scenes’ changes for the operation of Narraweema.

Throughout Australia, the responsibility of funding aged care places belongs to the Commonwealth. Gloucester was one of the last health services to still be providing aged care from State Government funds.

"This has now changed, with the Commonwealth now transferring the 15 nursing home beds at Narraweema to come under their wing," Mr Hampson said.

"The staff won’t change, management won’t change, the fees to the residents won’t change, the building won’t change.

"The only changes will be that administratively it will come under Commonwealth Guidelines and will operate under Hillcrest’s residential care number.

"This is a good thing for residents. Hospitals have never really been an appropriate place for nursing home patients unless of course they are unwell.

"The Commonwealth aged care facility guidelines are less clinically focussed and more aged care focussed. This means that they are more concerned with making it a home-like environment with the stimulation and personal care required for older people, rather than being managed under guidelines designed for clinical care or rehabilitation.

"To their credit, Narraweema staff have worked to make it a home-like environment for residents, but these guidelines will help to support their efforts," he said.

Mr Hampson said the transfer of funding responsibility became effective on 25 February and the next step is for Hunter New England Health to look to the new Commonwealth guidelines and see what changes need to be put in place.

The good news, according to Mr Hampson, is that because these 15 beds will now come under the same funding arrangements as the 25 nursing home beds at Hillcrest and the 20 aged care hostel beds at Kimbarra Lodge, there may well be scope for some improvements when meeting the Commonwealth’s aged care standards.

"Having Commonwealth funding for all of our aged care residential services is a very good thing. It means that while Gloucester Health Service will still be managing the facility, it will allow Narraweema to be administered under more aged care focussed guidelines," he said.