Residents in nursing homes are being sedated to make up for poor ratios, the Australian Medical Association warns.

AMA president Dr Michael Gannon tells Ben Fordham it’s a systemic problem in the care of elderly people in Australia.

“These medications are prescribed by medical practitioners, we are all in this together.

“We have called for better nursing ratios, a higher proportion of registered nurses, who have a higher level of training than enrolled nurses and other support staff.

“We want to see a system where it is more attractive for doctors to go and visit residential aged care facilities.

“It’s something fewer doctors are doing.”

He says if a patient is disruptive or agitated, they may require further medical attention rather than more sedatives.

“What we are seeing is these medications are being used a surrogate for the appropriate ratio of nurses to residents and it’s simply not good enough.”

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