NSW leans on Hospital in the Home as bed squeeze bites
New wearable monitoring technology is being introduced, helping clinicians remotely track vital signs such as breathing rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and heart rate in real time.
The NSW Government is expanding its Hospital in the Home (HITH) program across several regional areas with a $31.7 million investment, as pressure on hospital beds continues to climb.
From this month, HITH will be rolled out across the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn and Queanbeyan regions, with the program also expected to be extended to the Snowy Monaro and Yass Valley regions.
The southern expansion will support paediatric, palliative and aged care patients, and will be led by a medical officer and nurse practitioners. Patients with a range of clinical conditions will be eligible, including patients with cellulitis, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and urinary tract infections.
New wearable monitoring technology is also being introduced, helping clinicians remotely track vital signs such as breathing rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and heart rate in real time.
The move comes as NSW hospitals grapple with rising numbers of patients who are clinically ready for discharge. At the end of September, there were 1,151 aged care residents and NDIS recipients in NSW hospitals who had exceeded their estimated date of discharge, a 54% increase in 12 months. Westmead was the Sydney hospital with the most beds occupied (60), followed by Concord (45), Liverpool and Campbelltown (42 each).
Health Minister Ryan Park said HITH is now central to easing the strain. “The HITH program gives people access to high-quality treatment without leaving the comfort and safety of their home, while easing pressure on our busy hospitals.”
Last year, the NSW Government announced a $480.7 million package aimed at avoiding 290,000 hospital emergency department (ED) visits annually, including expanding HITH.
Virtual care is increasingly being seen a key solution to overflowing hospital beds. St Vincent’s Health Australia plans to deliver half its care virtually or at home by 2030, while in South Australia, the Government is doubling the capacity of its Transition Care Service at the Pullman Hotel with Amplar Health.
