The aged care sector has pushed back against the South Australian Government’s 10-point plan to “unblock” the state’s aged care system, calling it unworkable and potentially damaging to care quality and safety.
Peak body Ageing Australia has warned that proposals to penalise providers for not accepting high-needs hospital patients risk scapegoating a sector already at breaking point.
The response follows the release of the SA Government’s 10-point action plan over the weekend, aimed at addressing the growing number of older people stuck in hospital beds due to a lack of aged care placements.
There are currently 241 older patients occupying acute beds in South Australian hospitals while awaiting residential aged care placement – despite aged care occupancy rates sitting at 98%.
A symptom of stagnant capacity
The figures come as no surprise, with Ageing Australia pointing to a lack of investment in new beds.
According to analysis by The Weekly SOURCE, just 253 new aged care beds were added in South Australia between 2020-21 and 2023-24 – far behind other states:
- NSW: +700 beds
- Victoria: +1,372 beds
- Queensland: +791 beds
- Western Australia: +1,330 beds
SA’s 10-point plan: Partnership or pressure?
The South Australian Government’s plan, led by Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton MP (pictured above right), includes several controversial proposals:
- Federal funding at 120% of actual cost for hospital patients awaiting aged care
- A new Complex Care program for patients not eligible for specialised support
- Reweighting of AN-ACC Class 8 to incentivise care for residents with complex cognitive needs
- An additional Aged Care Capital Assistance Program round, targeting shortage areas
- New aged care star ratings to include metrics on hospital admission acceptance
- A new Aged Care Standard – “Access” – requiring providers to maximise placements
- AN-ACC funding cuts for providers who consistently refuse hospital discharges
- Weekly Commonwealth reporting on waitlists and provider refusals
- Reconsideration of the proposed Financial and Prudential Standard
- Increasing residential respite from 63 to 180 days per year for people without safe alternatives
“You can’t fix hospitals by punishing aged care”: Ageing Australia CEO
Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson (pictured above left) criticised the measures, warning they could unfairly penalise providers for systemic issues beyond their control.
“You can’t fix hospital blockages by punishing aged care providers already under pressure,” Tom said.
“We need partnership, not penalties. Aged care is at near peak capacity – we must find a way together.
“Providers are ready to be part of the solution – but threatening funding cuts, and publicly public shaming for not accepting high-needs hospital patients, who cannot be realistically supported under current settings, goes too far.”
Hampstead Centre to reopen 55 beds
The SA Government’s plan was released alongside the announcement that it will open 55 beds at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre as part of a 70-bed bridging service for older hospital patients – 50 beds for those awaiting aged care placement and 20 for low-complexity Memory Support Unit residents.
Ironically, this is the same Hampstead Centre the Government had previously proposed to close.
Tom concluded that unless financial viability issues are addressed, and providers are supported to refurbish and build new facilities, aged care access will continue to lag behind demand.
“It is also critical that aged care services receive adequate funding to meet the increasingly complex needs of older people who require residential care. In particular, many of those older people in hospital for an extended period have clinical and care needs that far outstrip the staffing available in aged care currently.”
“We continue to push for a coordinated national strategy on bed capacity, involving both state and the federal governments.”
