The states and territories are calling on the Albanese Government to do more to address a large number of elderly patients stuck in public hospitals waiting for aged care beds. Source: ABC News.
Almost 2500 elderly patients are in public hospitals waiting for a federal Government aged care bed, according to new figures compiled by the states and territories, which suggest the practice is costing taxpayers $1 billion a year.
A report prepared by the South Australian Government will be presented to a meeting of health ministers in Perth today, with the states and territories calling on the federal Government to do more to address what they say is a critical aged care crisis affecting hospitals.
“The current state of older Australians awaiting [residential aged care home] placement in the health system is unsustainable and threatens the ongoing viability of public hospitals to provide acute care for those in need,” the report states.
South Australian Health Minister and chair of the health ministers’ meeting, Chris Picton, said almost 2500 older Australians were ready for discharge but stuck in hospital for “no medical reason.”
“It’s not fair for them or the health system and it’s costing taxpayers nearly a billion dollars a year,” he said.
“It’s the equivalent of three Westmead Hospitals taken out of the health system across the country by the aged care bed block failure.
“These people are effectively homeless, living in a hospital bed. Many of these patients are stuck like this for months, some even years. It’s a national tragedy.”
West Australian Health Minister Meredith Hammat said while she acknowledged the work the Commonwealth had done in the space, “there is more to do.”
The report said the lack of residential aged care home beds and the inability to manage older people with complex needs meant public hospitals had become “aged care providers of last resort”.
FULL STORY
Government urged to do more to address 2,500 hospital patients waiting for aged care beds (By Stephanie Dalzell, ABC News)
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Albanese’s aged care policies leading to bed block: states (The Australian)
