New figures obtained by the ABC reveal that the number of aged care patients stranded in hospitals across Australia has surged by more than 35% in less than a year. Data from each state and territory shows there were 3,274 such patients in public hospitals between February and April, compared to 2,419 in September.
Kathleen's 87-year-old mother Irene was admitted to a Brisbane hospital last December for pneumonia. Although medically cleared to go home, she had to stay an extra month because she could not access appropriate in-home support. Processing delays around locking in carers prevented a safe discharge. 'Mum really, really wanted to come home... it's just no sense of autonomy and control over your own environment,' Kathleen said.
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia chief executive Geoff Rowe criticized the term 'bed block', stating that older people are not there by choice but because the system is not working. 'Many of the older people we talk to are feeling very frustrated, they're feeling abandoned by the system,' he said.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the situation as terrible for patients, their families, and the public hospital system. He noted that the issue has 'got ahead' of successive federal governments over the last two decades and requires urgent action.
The Commonwealth has agreed to a national task force and announced an extra 5,000 aged care beds per year by 2029, as part of a $3 billion aged care package. However, states and advocates argue this will not go far enough. A new program designed to help dementia patients at risk of being stuck in hospital move into suitable aged care services could offer hope.
