'They're people's mums and dads': The crisis engulfing hospitals

Irene (left) was medically cleared to leave hospital, but had to stay longer because she couldn't access appropriate home support. (ABC News: Ben Cocklin) New figures obtained by the ABC show the number of aged care patients stranded in hospitals across the country has surged by more than 35 per cent in less than a year. The Commonwealth has agreed to a national task force and announced an extra 5,000 aged care beds a year, but the states and advocates argue it won't go far enough. A new program designed to help dementia patients at risk of being stuck in hospital move into suitable aged care services could offer hope. Link copiedShareShare articleAs she watched her mother languish in hospital despite being medically cleared to go home, Kathleen began to question how Australia treats its most vulnerable. Kathleen's 87-year-old mother Irene was admitted to a Brisbane hospital last December for pneumonia, but after she was cleared to go, she had to stay a month longer because she could not access appropriate support at home. Kathleen was frustrated and stressed during the process of trying to bring her mother home. (ABC News: Ben Cocklin) Although Irene was approved for the highest level of in-home support, processing delays around locking in carers meant the hospital could not safely discharge her. "Mum really, really wanted to come home … she just wanted her own space, her own routine … it's just no sense of autonomy and control over your own environment," Kathleen said. Kathleen (right) tries to make her mum Irene (left) feel comfortable at home again, after weeks stuck in hospital. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic) "It's incredibly frustrating, but it's really sad at the same time because I really just wanted to spend the last little while that mum has left just being family and just being a daughter." Irene is one of thousands of older patients across the country stuck in hospital because there are not any suitable aged care beds or support at home. But new health data obtained by the ABC has revealed the problem has become increasingly worse. Kathleen (left) says she lost time with her mother Irene (right), who was desperate to return home. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic) There are now almost 3,300 aged care patients stranded in hospital beds across the nation, a 35 per cent increase in about six months. Data provided by each state and territory showed there were 3,274 patients in public hospitals between February and April of this year, compared to 2,419 in September. Long stays in hospitals strip elderly patients of independence, puts them at greater risk of illness and infection and also places increased pressure on hospitals. The issue is known as "bed block" but CEO of Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia Geoff Rowe said the term did not reflect the reality of the situation stranded patients were in. "Older people are not bed blockers, they're not there because they want to be there, they are stuck in hospital because the system is not working," he said. "Many of the older people we talk to are feeling very frustrated, they're feeling abandoned by the system and feeling like no one cares about their situation." Patients are unable to leave hospital because there's not enough support at home, or access to aged care. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic) The lengthy hospital stays have also led to a lengthy political battle. The issue was front and centre of a protracted spat with the states and territories over public hospital funding, with some state premiers calling it a "national disgrace". The ink is barely dry on a new five-year funding agreement, but the states and territories are again calling for urgent action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bowed to mounting pressure from the states, promising an extra $25 billion for public hospitals. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the issue had broad ranging effects. "It's a terrible situation for them and their dignity, it's a terrible situation for their families … and it's a terrible situation for a public hospital system that relies on those beds," he said. While states run public hospitals, the Commonwealth is responsible for funding and regulating aged care services. Mr Park said the issue had "got ahead" of successive federal governments over the last two decades, and urgent action was required to turn the tide. More than 200,000 people are currently waiting for aged care services. (ABC News: Patrick Stone) "It's not just this federal government, but this situation has been coming for a long period of time. "We need to see a level of priority given to what state and territory ministers would argue is one of the biggest challenges facing their health systems right now — this is a situation that we simply can't kick down the road." To try to appease the states and address a serious issue, the Commonwealth made a range of commitments, including a recently announced $3 billion aged care package, which included a promise to bui

'They're people's mums and dads': The crisis engulfing hospitals

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