“Far too little, too late”: Record numbers wait for aged care in SA hospitals

The South Australian Government has expanded its transition care program as a record 445 hospital patients wait for aged care.

From mid-July, an additional 10 Care Awaiting Placement beds will become available through Resthaven Incorporated, creating beds for hospital patients waiting for residential aged care.

The Southern Adelaide Local Health Network’s Urgent Health CARE Service for older people will also be expanded to operate 24 hours a day while the region’s Repat Health Precinct will be increased by six beds.

Expanded hours under the Urgent Health CARE Service means means older patients can stay overnight rather than being sent to a hospital emergency department.

In addition, the SA Government’s Transition Care Service at ECH-owned College Grove in Walkerville, 5km north of the Adelaide CBD, is on track to meet an important milestone with its 50th bed expected to open in August.

Expansion of the Transition Care Service, run through a partnership between the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and Medibank-owned Amplar Health, was announced in February.

Amplar Health also operates the State Government's 48-bed Pullman Hotel program and My Home Hospital, which has treated nearly 30,000 patients.

“It’s far too little, too late for the Labor government to be releasing a winter health plan when we’re literally halfway through winter,” said SA’s Shadow Health Minister Jack Batty.

The SA Government first announced its Winter Demand Plan 2026 in April, aimed at expanding hospital and virtual care capacity.

So far, however, the initiative appears to have done little to prevent the number of patients waiting in hospital for aged care reaching a record high.