Catholic Health Australia is calling on the next federal government to support not-for-profit health and aged care providers to deal with climate-related disasters, such as extreme heatwaves and floods.
The peak body, which represents 80 hospitals and 350 aged care facilities, is calling for a national approach to climate planning in the health sector, ensuring that all health care providers can work together on risk assessments, decarbonisation, and emergency preparedness.
“When a climate-driven disaster strikes, health systems need to function as a network, not in silos,” said Catholic Health Australia chief executive Jason Kara.
“The next government should support greater collaboration between public and not-for-profit providers to ensure our hospitals and aged care facilities can respond effectively.”
Many hospitals in Australia operate in co-located settings where public and private facilities exist side by side, yet they are often unable to share resources, procurement strategies, or emergency preparedness plans.
Without a shared strategy, the health sector remains fragmented in its response to climate change.
St Vincent’s group environmental, social and governance lead Judene Andrews said the health and aged care organisation was already seeing the impacts of climate change in its services.
“Climate change is a major risk for human health brought about by extreme weather, changes in infectious disease patterns, and detrimental effects on food and water security.
“Without a doubt, these impacts are already putting pressure on our national health system.
“In Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital and its partners have established a pop-up cooling hub for days of extreme temperature to provide care and support to rough sleepers and other vulnerable people in the inner city. The cooling hub offers misting systems, water, shelter, and can provide health checks if a person is experiencing a heat-related illness.
“While we have been able to set targets to reduce carbon emissions, embed environmental sustainability priorities in our strategy, and encourage staff to work more sustainably, St Vincent’s knows that much more needs to be done to prepare our health systems for greater climate variability and change over the next quarter century.”
FULL STORY
Government must help not for profit health and aged care providers deal with climate change (CHA)
