3,600 elderly stranded in hospital beds, waiting for aged care spots

More than 3,600 older Australians are stuck in public hospitals waiting for aged care spots.

Why it mattersOlder Australians are staying in hospitals longer than necessary, costing more money and blocking beds needed for acute care. Emergency departments designed for quick treatment are becoming holding areas.

AustraliaEvery Australian aged care user and their family faces longer waits and less choice. Hospital overcrowding spreads across the country, delaying treatment for everyone needing emergency care.

✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 8 h ago

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Medical staff attending to patient on bed in hospital emergency department

✓ Newcastle HeraldScience & Systems

Hunter hospitals hit 174-bed aged care crisis

Patients stuck in Hunter hospital beds waiting for aged care jumped from 138 to 174 in one year, blocking hundreds of beds.

Why it mattersHospitals lose hundreds of beds to patients who do not need acute care, pushing out people waiting for urgent surgery and emergency treatment.