A Chief Clinical Advisor will be appointed to assist the new aged care watchdog from next year, following strong advocacy from the AMA. The Federal Government amended its Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018 to formally enshrine the position of Chief Clinical Advisor to assist the new Commissioner. The Bill passed Parliament yesterday. In addition, the AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said that the Department of Health has confirmed that the Chief Clinical Advisor will be a doctor. “The Carnell-Paterson Review, which was initiated in response to the shocking failures at the Oakden facility in South Australia, recommended establishing an independent aged care Commission to centralise regulation,” Dr Bartone said. “The AMA has continuously called for the establishment of a Commission that provides a clear, well-communicated governance hierarchy, which brings leadership and accountability to the aged care system. “In our Position Statement on Resourcing Aged Care, in our submission to the Inquiry into the Bill, and during our public evidence to the Inquiry, the AMA consistently argued that having a Chief Clinical Advisor is an absolute must for the Commission.
