The number of “effectively homeless” older Australians stranded in hospitals because they can’t get an aged care bed has surged by nearly a quarter, with one state Health Minister labelling the problem as a “national shame”. Source: Daily Telegraph.
Ahead of a Health Minister’s meeting today, states say the delay in ending the standstill in public hospital funding has worsened bed block, forcing older Australians to languish in hospital while waiting for a residential aged care placement.
The latest figures, which will be put to federal Health Minister Mark Butler today, show the figure surging by 26 per cent in the last three months to 3049.
Levels of bed block were the steepest in Queensland (1076) followed by NSW (852).
South Australia and Western Australia reported figures of 346 and 304, while there are 246 older Australians waiting for a residential placement in Victoria. Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory had 77, 75 and 73 respectively.
South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton will present the shortfall to Mr Butler at the meeting, and says that there is a 9800 shortfall of aged car beds.
He described the problem as a “national shame” and said the Commonwealth needed to urgently address the “growing crisis” and described those stuck in hospital because they can’t get a federal Government aged care bed as “effectively homeless”.
FULL STORY
Premiers say hospital bed block crisis has caused older Australians to be ‘effectively homeless’ (By Jessica Wang and Ellen Ransley, Daily Telegraph)
RELATED COVERAGE
Albanese urges states to accept $20bn health deal as aged care shortages put pressure on hospitals (Guardian Australia)
