Over 3,600 patients stranded in hospital waiting for aged care

States and territories will today raise the growing issue of bed block across the country with the Commonwealth Government at the Health Ministers Meeting in Sydney.

There are now over 3,600 patients stranded in state hospitals across Australia waiting for Commonwealth Government aged care placements.

The national number increased from over 2,700 in mid 2025 to over 3,600 in mid 2026:

• Queensland – from 1076 to 1272
• NSW - from 750 to 1,027
• South Australia – from 245 to 476
• Western Australia – from 230 to 423
• Victoria - from 226 to 302
• Tasmania – from 55 to 78
• NT – from 76 to 74
• ACT – from 78 to 80

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 emergency departments.

Ultimately, in Australia’s joint funded health system, the accessibility of aged care services rests with the Commonwealth.

Public hospitals were not designed as alternatives or substitutes to aged care facilities, and patients waiting indefinitely in hospital face poorer prospects for recovery.

States and territories will work with the Commonwealth on this issue and today will call for a commitment to more Support at Home packages to facilitate the return of stranded patients to home settings. There are almost 100,000 people waiting for Support at Home packages.

Tasmania Minister for Health Bridget Archer said:

“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.

"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.”

NSW Minister for Health and Chair of the Health Ministers Meeting Ryan Park said:

“I am concerned the prevalence of bed block is accelerating and is far beyond sustainable. 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.”

ACT Minister for Health Marisa Paterson said:

“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. 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.”

NT Minister for Health Steve Edgington said:

“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. 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.”

Queensland Minister for Health Tim Nicholls said:

“Queensland remains ground zero for stranded older patients, with more than 1,270 stuck in our hospitals and interim care through no fault of their own. 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.

SA Minister for Health Blair Boyer said:

“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. 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.”

Victoria Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt said:

“Every older Victorian deserves to age with dignity - and no one should stay in hospital longer than they need to. We'll continue to advocate strongly to the Commonwealth to ensure its aged care reforms are properly funded and no Victorian misses out.”

WA Minister for Health Meredith Hammat said:

“The number of older Australians awaiting aged care in public hospital beds during winter reached worrying new heights in Western Australia. 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."