Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
NSW urged to expand care options for patients waiting in hospitals
More than 1,000 people in New South Wales are waiting in hospital beds for aged care placement.
Their number rose from 761 to 1,063 in a year, according to NSW Health data.
A state commission warns the total could exceed 7,000 within 10 years if aged care and community services do not keep pace with an ageing population.
It estimates NSW needs 2,600 extra aged care beds each year, but is projected to deliver only 660.
The commission says these patients cost more than $1 billion a year to keep in hospital and wants more support at home and intermediate care facilities.
The NSW government plans a $28 million pilot for short-term support, including clinical and personal care, while the health minister says aged care is traditionally a federal responsibility.
State and territory leaders have asked the Commonwealth to expand its Support at Home program, where more than 100,000 people were waiting for funding in March 2026, with average waits of about 12 months.
The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission has urged the state to expand care options for patients stuck in hospital while waiting for aged care.
The number of people in NSW hospital beds awaiting aged care rose from 761 to 1,063 over the past year, according to NSW Health data.
The commission warned the number could exceed 7,000 in 10 years if aged care and community services do not keep pace with an ageing population.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the state would provide interim support services through a $28 million pilot program.
The commission estimated that hospital stays for patients awaiting aged care cost more than $1 billion a year.
- Who
- The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission urged expanded care options; NSW Health Minister Ryan Park outlined a state pilot program.
- What
- The commission called for more options, including intermediate care, for patients waiting in hospital for aged care.
- When
- The commission's report was released on Wednesday; the article was published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- New South Wales, Australia.
- Why
- Patients are occupying hospital beds while they wait for aged care, amid shortages in aged care and community support.
NSW Productivity and Equality Commission
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park
Responsibility
NSW Productivity and Equality Commission
The commission called for expanded aged care and community support, including intermediate care.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park
Park said aged care was traditionally the Commonwealth's responsibility, while saying NSW would provide interim support.
Response
NSW Productivity and Equality Commission
The commission said more funding and alternative care options were needed to reduce hospital stays.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park
Park announced a $28 million pilot that could fund short-term clinical, personal and domestic care services.
More than 100,000 Australians were waiting to access funding for at-home support services, with average waits of about 12 months.
State and territory leaders called for the Commonwealth to expand its Support at Home package.
The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission released its report calling for expanded care options.
- Patients awaiting aged care in NSW hospitals
- Rose from 761 to 1,063 over the past year
- Projected patients
- More than 7,000 in 10 years if services fail to keep pace
- Annual aged care beds needed
- 2,600
- Projected annual beds delivered in NSW
- 660
- Estimated annual cost of stranded hospital patients
- More than $1 billion
- NSW pilot program
- $28 million
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What people are saying
We need to look outside the box. There may as well be a third alternative, such as intermediate care where people can go to facilities which are not an acute hospital but not quite an aged care facility,
It is a significant reform because we're essentially stepping into a space [that is] traditionally the responsibility of the Commonwealth, but I can't see hospital beds continue to be taken offline each and every day,