NSW Government Announces $28 Million Aged Care Pilot Program to Address Hospital Discharge Delays

The NSW Government announced the launch of a new $28 million pilot program designed to provide interim aged care services to help older patients transition from public hospitals back to their homes. The initiative comes alongside the release of a new report from the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission examining the issue of patients stranded in state healthcare facilities.

According to the report, titled Helping older patients stranded in NSW public hospitals, discharge delays are having a growing impact on older individuals, their families, and hospital capacity across New South Wales. Commission modelling indicates that without intervention, the number of older stranded patients could rise from approximately 1,100 currently to more than 7,000 by 2036 due to population aging and demand exceeding supply.

The Commission's report estimates that the Commonwealth Government needs to supply 2,600 additional residential aged care beds in NSW annually, but is currently providing only about one-quarter of that number. While the report urged the Commonwealth Government to increase dedicated funding for aged care separately from hospital funding, it also emphasized that state measures must complement rather than replace Commonwealth responsibilities.

Under the new $28 million state pilot program, interim services will be offered to older patients awaiting Commonwealth Government Support At Home packages. The support is slated to assist more than 300 patients annually and may encompass clinical care, personal care, domestic assistance, assistive technology, and home modifications to facilitate discharge.

The pilot is part of a broader $35.7 million Aged Care Response Package introduced by the state government. NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park stated that while aged care provision remains a Commonwealth responsibility, the state is introducing interim measures to alleviate strain on hospital beds and assist stranded patients. The NSW Government stated it will continue to engage with federal, state, and territory counterparts through the Hospital Discharge Joint Taskforce and Health Ministers Meeting to address the national issue.

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