‘Alarming’: NSW set for explosion in patients waiting for aged care beds
Thousands of patients could be in hospital waiting for aged care beds in four years, as Minister Ryan Park slammed “alarming” increase.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The number of patients languishing in hospital waiting for an aged care placement is set to explode over four years, with NSW on track to have 2,600 hospital beds blocked by people who should be in a home by 2030.
Health Minister Ryan Park has launched an extraordinary attack on his federal counterpart, declaring that the number of patients waiting for an aged care bed is “not acceptable” and growing at an “alarming rate”.
At the end of August, 520 hospital beds were occupied by patients who could be discharged if they had an aged care home to go to.
That was more than five times the 100 hospital patients waiting for aged care beds at the same time in 2020.
Based on that growth, NSW is on track to have some 2,600 hospital beds blocked by aged care patients in four years’ time.
Mr Park told The Daily Telegraph that the “alarming” growth in people waiting for aged care beds is “having a significant impact on waiting times in our emergency departments.”
“Having so many people waiting for months on end in a hospital bed is not acceptable,” he said.
“It’s bad for the system as well as for patients. We know that long periods of immobility in hospital lead to de-conditioning, loss of mobility and cognitive impairment.”
“What’s even more concerning is that the number of patients in this position appears to be growing at an alarming rate.”
The revelations come as the Albanese government is reportedly seeking to strike a deal with the Coalition on aged care which could see wealthier Australians pay more for an aged care placement.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said that the Albanese government is spending “over $200 million to get people in New South Wales out of hospital beds and back into aged care”.
“I don’t want older Australians to spend longer in hospital when they can be receiving care back in their aged care home,” he said.
He said the government’s investments on aged care have helped prevent older Australians going to hospital in the first place if they can be adequately cared for in an aged care home.
The Telegraph was told that the number of aged care beds increased by 1,500 from 2020-21 to 2022-23.
The Albanese government is working to secure support for the new Aged Care Act.
Last month, The Australian reported that Labor and the Coalition were close to striking a deal to ease the aged care shortage by asking self-funded retirees to pay more.
It was reported that wealthier Australians would pay a larger proportion of their daily living expenses.
More Coverage
One woman holds the key to solving 50-year-old double murder
It has been 50 years since two nurses, Lorraine Wilson and Wendy Evans, were murdered at the bottom of the Toowoomba Range, and despite two coronial inquests, the answer to who did it lies with a mysterious woman who has never been identified.
Chip off the old block: Down syndrome no barrier for Jagger
Little Jagger Lemmon is loving the water thanks to his new buddy and swimming coach Chip Hanson. The pair, who both have Down syndrome, have an incredible bond.