Government put on notice over nursing home bed block

A deficiency of aged attraction spots is leaving thousands of older Australians stuck successful infirmary and “effectively homeless”, arsenic state and territory wellness officials impulse the national authorities to bash more.

A insubstantial being presented astatine a gathering of state and Commonwealth wellness ministers warns astir 2500 radical are languishing successful hospitals crossed the nation, sometimes for months astatine a time, due to the fact that they can’t entree a residential aged attraction bed.

The contented is estimated to outgo taxpayers astir $1 cardinal a year, and makes it harder for radical with acute injuries and illnesses to entree a infirmary bed.

South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton is chairing the gathering of ministers, which is being held successful Perth, and says the furniture artifact is simply a “national tragedy.”

“It’s staggering that close present crossed the country, much than 2400 older Australians are stuck successful infirmary for nary aesculapian reason,” helium said successful a statement.

“They’re acceptable for discharge but can’t get a national authorities nursing location furniture … these radical are efficaciously homeless.”

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the Albanese authorities needed to bash much to code the issue.

“The Commonwealth’s teetering grip connected their areas of responsibility… obliges Queensland to capable the void with fund measures similar $581 cardinal implicit two years to supply interim attraction beds extracurricular of our hospitals,” helium said.

The states often propulsion the national authorities for much backing crossed a scope of argumentation areas but are seldom this co-ordinated.

NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT person each issued statements supporting SA’s position.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler admits much indispensable beryllium done to enactment up the aged attraction system, and says the authorities is trying to get much nursing homes built to cater to an influx of babe boomers.

“We’re starting to spot that turn around, but they’re not happening successful the numbers we request close now, today,” helium told Nine’s Today Show.

“It’s not perfect, close now. We’ve got to bash more,” helium said.

Source: AAP