Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
Report warns ageing population is straining Tasmania's emergency departments
A national report from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine says Australia’s health services are not prepared for the growing number of older patients.
It says gaps in primary care, aged care, home support and hospitals are leaving emergency departments to manage more of the pressure.
Tasmania is especially affected because it has the nation’s highest proportion of people aged 65 and over.
From 2018–19 to 2023–24, older patients attending Tasmanian emergency departments rose by 19 per cent, while the increase among younger patients was 2 per cent.
The report says older patients can face long waits in crowded departments, sometimes without enough rest or comfort, and that this can put their health at risk.
It projects emergency department visits by people aged 85 and over will increase by 411 per cent by 2050.
The college is urging governments to expand community and aged care support, improve hospital patient flow and add at least 10,000 aged care beds by 2028.
The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine says Tasmania’s emergency departments are under pressure as more older people need care.
A report says Australia’s health system has not planned adequately for the volume and complexity of care required by an ageing population.
The number of older people attending Tasmanian emergency departments rose 19 per cent between 2018-19 and 2023-24.
Only 40 per cent of older Tasmanian patients needing hospital admission accessed a bed within eight hours, below the college’s 90 per cent target.
The report projects emergency department arrivals of people aged 85 and over will rise by 411 per cent by 2050.
- Who
- The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) raised the warning. Older people in Tasmania’s emergency departments are among those affected.
- What
- A report says the health system is not prepared for the growing number and complexity of older patients needing care.
- When
- The report was released on October 12, 2026. It covers changes between 2018-19 and 2023-24 and projects to 2050.
- Where
- Tasmania, Australia.
- Why
- The report says governments have not planned adequately for an ageing population, leaving emergency departments to fill gaps in other health services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The number of older people attending Tasmanian emergency departments increased by 19 per cent.
ACEM released its State of Emergency report, warning that the health system was not prepared for the needs of an ageing population.
The report projected a 411-per-cent increase in emergency department arrivals of people aged 85 and over.
- Older Tasmanian attendees
- Increased 19 per cent from 2018-19 to 2023-24
- Younger Tasmanian attendees
- Increased 2 per cent over the same period
- Older patients accessing an admitted bed within eight hours in Tasmania
- 40 per cent
- ACEM recommended eight-hour admission access target
- 90 per cent
- Projected increase in ED arrivals aged 85 and over
- 411 per cent by 2050
What people are saying
We don't need to look forward — we are in this crisis right now
When you boil it down, what's at stake is people's lives
Sources
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