Vulnerable Australians are increasingly stranded in hospital while waiting for disability and aged care services, with a state government lashing federal efforts to help out.
Hospital bed occupancy rates in NSW hit all-time highs in 2024-25 with nearly 95 per cent of beds occupied on average, according to the state's health data bureau.
From March 2025 to March 2026, the number of patients staying in hospital while waiting for either aged care or National Disability Insurance Scheme placement spiked from 871 to 1276.
The rise in aged care figures was particularly sharp, surging from 597 to 948.
Bureau of Health Information data showed the average length of stay for people discharged to residential aged care grew 8.5 days between 2017-19 and 2023-24, from 18.6 to 27.1 days.
