- 398 patients have been stranded in South East Queensland hospitals, 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.
- Federal Government's stranded patients leaving South East Queensland hospitals 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 South East Queensland, after revelations stranded patients are waiting in South East Queensland hospitals.
Through no fault of their own, 398 stranded patients are occupying beds in Metro North and Metro South HHS facilities, including 112 younger and 286 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."
John Lee, a 77-year-old Brighton man spent seven weeks in Redcliffe Hospital following a stroke earlier this year and has been in Interim Care awaiting an aged care placement since August.
"I don't mind waiting for a residential aged care facility placement because I want to stay here at Brighton. My biggest concern is that I am still paying rent at home so hopefully when I get that sorted and the forms filled out that will help me save some money," Mr Lee said.
"They have great staff at Redcliffe Hospital, who took care of me. The physiotherapist helped me to build the strength and balance to have showers, but I still don't have the ability to stand for too long or the capability to move around.
"Once I get to a residential aged facility, I want to go back to playing lawn bowls, even if I have to sit on the walker to do it. I am looking forward to someone being there all the time to look after me, check up on me regularly just in case."
