"Bed block is accelerating and is far beyond sustainable," NSW Minister for Health says

Between mid-2025 and mid-2026 the number of patients stranded in state hospitals waiting for Commonwealth Government aged care placements has increased from over 2700 to over 3600.

When patients are unable to be discharged to appropriate care, beds in wards cannot be used, surgeries cannot be undertaken and patients wait longer in EDs, a NSW Minister for Health statement said, with the accessibility of aged care services resting with the Commonwealth in Australia’s joint funded health system.

Public hospitals were not designed as alternatives or substitutes to aged care facilities, the statement added, with patients waiting indefinitely in hospital facing poorer prospects for recovery. There are almost 100,000 people waiting for Support at Home packages.

Across the jurisdictions, all except the Northern Territory saw an increase, with the figures as follows, along with comments from the respective health ministers:

Queensland: from 1076 to 1272

“Queensland remains ground zero for stranded older patients, with more than 1270 stuck in our hospitals and interim care through no fault of their own,” Queensland Minister for Health Tim Nicholls said. “Our message has been very loud and clear and that is that the Commonwealth needs to honour its commitments and invest in more aged care supports in Queensland, and across the country. These vulnerable patients need to be moved out of our busy, noisy hospitals and into more appropriate settings so they can get the care they deserve.”

New South Wales: from 750 to 1027

“I am concerned the prevalence of bed block is accelerating and is far beyond sustainable,” NSW Minister for Health and Chair of the Health Ministers Meeting Ryan Park said. “We acknowledge the Commonwealth has pledged investment into aged care builds, but we know that can take some time. We will work constructively with the Commonwealth including on issues such as seeing a more immediate response to this crisis, including the delivery of more Commonwealth Support at Home packages.”

South Australia: from 245 to 476

“Nationally, we need an additional 10,000 aged care beds each year — last year we had just 800. And this crisis is only going to get worse with current projections showing the total population aged over 70 in South Australia will nearly double over the next 30 years — from 226,568 to 441,395. There are currently 476 older South Australians who are ready to leave hospital but cannot access an aged care placement. That’s up from 60 in late 2022. That number of aged care patients waiting for a bed is about the same as the number of patients at the Lyell McEwin hospital — one of our largest metro hospitals,” SA Minister for Health Blair Boyer said.

“If we were able to get them into an aged care bed, it would free up a whole hospital so we could treat those patients that need it. This is putting a huge demand on our healthcare system as the new beds we’ve added to the system are being taking up by aged care patients. Older people should not have to spend weeks, months, or even years in some cases, in hospital waiting for aged care support — and we need the federal government to act now.”

Western Australia: from 230 to 423

“The number of older Australians awaiting aged care in public hospital beds during winter reached worrying new heights in Western Australia,” WA Minister for Health Meredith Hammat said. “That’s about 100 more than we had 12 months ago, and another 100 fewer beds available for acutely unwell patients. Older Western Australians deserve a more dignified care setting when they’ve been cleared for discharge.”

Victoria: from 226 to 302

“Every older Victorian deserves to age with dignity — and no one should stay in hospital longer than they need to,” Victoria Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt said. “We’ll continue to advocate strongly to the Commonwealth to ensure its aged care reforms are properly funded and no Victorian misses out.”

Australian Capital Territory: from 78 to 80

“Older Australians should not have to spend extended periods in hospital when their care needs could be better met in the community or in residential aged care,” ACT Minister for Health Dr Marisa Paterson said. “These delays are difficult for patients and their loved ones and contribute to increasing pressure across the broader health system. People deserve timely access to the right care in the right setting, and we will continue engaging with our federal counterparts to help make that a reality.”

Tasmania: from 55 to 78

“Too many Tasmanians remain stuck in our hospitals, sometimes for weeks and even months at a time, because the federal government has not provided them with the aged care or NDIS supports needed,” Tasmania Minister for Health Bridget Archer said. “These Tasmanians are not just statistics, they are Tasmanians who deserve dignity, compassion and a proper place to recover. While the Tasmanian Government will always provide high-quality care, the ongoing lack of leadership and support from the federal government is unacceptable.”

Northern Territory: from 76 to 74

“The NT Government is delivering more beds, more nurses, and more equipment in a record NT Health budget with one new ward opening this week and another later this year to help deal with capacity issues,” NT Minister for Health Steve Edgington said. “Our hospital pressures are exacerbated by Commonwealth failure to invest in aged care fast enough as we wait for a promised new facility in the Top End. We could potentially free up another 70 beds and this would make a significant difference to bed block, pressure in the ED and the health system in general in the Territory.”

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