[Greens-Media] Tebbutt transfers nursing homes to private operator with form

[John Kaye]

Tebbutt transfers nursing homes to private operator with form

Media release: 18 September 2010

The Keneally government has handed over 130 elderly people to a company with a track record of failing to provide adequate care and a history of donating to the Labor party, according to Greens NSW MP and Health spokesperson John Kaye. ('Labor donor awarded care contracts' SMH 18 September, page 5, http://bit.ly/smh100918H)

Dr Kaye said: "At least two homes run by the Moran group have been sanctioned by the regulator for failing to  protect the health and welfare of their patients.

"Privatisation was always going to threaten the standards of care. Transferring these patients to a provider with a history of being pinged by the regulator is gambling with the health and welfare of some very frail and vulnerable people.

"Moran is a substantial donor to both the NSW Labor Party and the Coalition, having given more than $67,000 since 2002. 

"The public perception will inevitably be that the Keneally government's  enthusiasm for privatisation was influenced by the largesse of the aged care providers who would step in and run these institutions to make a profit," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455