‘Virtual’ nurses may be needed to meet 24/7 aged care staff mandate, top health executive says

Former health department chief Martin Bowles says staffing crisis will get harder and harder' and sector at risk of collapse

• Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

The Albanese government should consider allowing virtual" nurses to help meet a new 24/7 staff mandate for aged care homes, a leading health executive says.

Martin Bowles, the chief executive of Calvary Health Care, says chronic staff shortages in the sector will it hard to meet the round-the-clock requirement and remote nurses should be considered.