NSW hospital 'stranded patient' numbers surge 40 per cent, report warns of 7,000 in a decade

The report from the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission, released Wednesday and commissioned by the state government, said an extra 2,600 aged care beds would be needed each year to meet future demand, but NSW is projected to deliver only 660.

Commissioner Peter Achterstraat told the ABC that keeping patients in hospital was costing $1,000 a night compared with "just a few hundred dollars" at an aged care facility. He said there were over 1,100 people in hospital today who should not be there.

"We need to look outside the box," Achterstraat said, proposing "a third alternative, such as intermediate care" where people can go to facilities which are not an acute hospital but not an aged care.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the state government would provide interim services, but argued aged care was traditionally the responsibility of the Commonwealth. In September, state and territory leaders called for the Commonwealth to expand its Support at Home package for stranded patients.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Hospital beds occupied by aged-aged patients costs the system over $1 billion annually and rising wait times affect emergency care for all patients across NSW.
The projection to 7,000 stranded patients in 10 years signals a potential crisis if no new aged care capacity is not expanded.
2,600 beds needed per year only 660 are projected to deliver creating a shortfall that)

Background

New South Wales's ageing is ageing rapidly and the aged care system is already strained. The productivity commission's report is the latest attempt to quantify future demand and offer solutions including intermediate care)

Key Perspectives

Aged care providers: They want more federal funding and support to prevent beds clogged hospitals. **NSW government: They agree a problem but say the Commonwealth must expand its support at home and aged care responsibility. **Interested alternative advocates: They think intermediate care such as acute hospital-style not yet" a aged care" facility)

What to Watch

The number of beds count each month shows whether the trend accelerates.
Response to the Commonwealth the 2026 federal budget to allocate additional aged care funding.
Any pilot for intermediate care programs in NSW hospitals declared by the government.

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No further information from sources beyond this report.)