- 102 patients have been stranded in the Darling Downs, urgently waiting for tailored care placements to be delivered by the Australian Government.
- Australian Government urged to address funding shortfalls keeping patients in hospitals instead of in appropriate care.
- Stranded patients leaving Darling Downs HHS under pressure and delaying access to specialist health services when Queenslanders need them.
The Queensland Government is calling on the Australian Government to urgently meet its responsibilities to Queenslanders waiting for aged care placements and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) assistance in the Darling Downs, after revelations stranded patients are waiting in hospitals.
Through no fault of their own, 102 stranded patients are occupying beds in Darling Downs HHS facilities, including 14 younger and 88 older patients, who have been medically cleared for discharge but remain in hospital.
A funding shortfall from the Australian Government has left the patients without suitable care options and languishing in hospital beds.
The Queensland Government is doing everything it can to ensure patients receive the healthcare they need and deserve, however funding for the NDIS and aged care is primarily the responsibility of the Australian Government.
These older patients cost the health system $1.91 million every day - costs that should rightly be met by the Commonwealth, and a further 290 younger NDIS patients are also awaiting discharge, adding $660,000 per day.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government was doing its part to strengthen Queensland's health system for the future.
"We are committed to improving access to healthcare across Queensland, reducing ambulance ramping, and increasing life-changing elective surgeries," Mr Nicholls said.
"As part of our Hospital Rescue Plan, we are delivering more than 2,600 new hospital beds across three new and 10 expanded hospitals, as well as new and upgraded health facilities across Queensland.
"While we are seeing the elective surgery wait list decrease and important progress on our Plan, there is much more to be done to restore health services when you need them, and we remain committed to delivering the fresh start we promised."
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive Annette Scott PSM said the growing number of long-stay patients across the region was placing significant pressure on the entire health system.
"People who no longer need acute hospital care deserve to be supported in their homes or in appropriate community services," Ms Scott said.
"When those options aren't available, our hospitals become blocked, reducing our ability to admit and treat patients who urgently need acute or elective care."
Darling Downs Health Allied Health Practitioner Long Stay, Shonell Willocks, said many of the long-stay patients were older people waiting for nursing home placements.
"No one comes into hospital expecting to move straight into residential aged care," Ms Willocks said.
"For many older patients, a sudden illness or injury leads to a decline in health, and residential care becomes the safest next step — but limited vacancies mean patients and families often face a long, confusing and overwhelming wait."
