NSW warns aged care funding gap could increase hospital pressure

Difficulties older people face accessing respiratory assistive technology under the Albanese government’s aged care reforms could lead to an uptick in elderly patients being admitted to the ED, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has warned.

However, federal Aged Care Minister Sam Rae said states had “rejected” a $2bn offer through the National Health Reform Agreement for aged care services despite delayed discharges of elderly patients – known as bed block – being singled out as “their biggest pressure point”.

Under the government’s reforms, which came into effect on November 1, assistive technologies are delivered through the new Support at Home program.

In doing so, the government separated funding for “the main care budget so older Australians don’t need to forgo care to afford assistive technology they need,” Mr Rae said.

However, respiratory technologies such as the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – a common medical device used to pump air into the throat – is excluded from funding under both the former Home Care Packages program and the new Support at Home.

CPAP machines are used by people with conditions that range from sleep apnoea to severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, where they require assistance with breathing.

It is understood a number of patients in NSW had been refused requests for CPAP machines on the basis that they were receiving Support at Home funding, despite the device being excluded from the package.

Mr Park warned officials were concerned “there is potential for older people to present to EDs or be admitted to hospital through the lack of access to these items”.

“The public health system in NSW is already under a lot of pressure, with older people stranded in our hospitals and unable to leave because they cannot access a Commonwealth government aged care place,” he said.

“That’s not fair on them and they deserve better.”

In a response to questions, Minister Rae, said the government had invested an “unprecedented” $1bn through our aged care capital grants program, including a share of $115m for hotspots in NSW like the Illawarra and Hunter regions.

He said the government would continue to “listen to older Australians and act on their feedback”.

“When it comes to in-home care, we’ve listened to the concerns of older people and will invest more than $1bn to fully fund services like showering so older Australians can continue to receive the high-quality and dignified care at home they deserve,” he said.

“The Albanese government has strengthened access to assistive technology through the new Support at Home program, separating funding from the main care budget so older Australians don’t need to forgo care to afford the assistive technology they need.

“We’ll continue to work productively with our counterparts in state government to build on our reforms and refine our aged care system so older Australians aren’t left behind.”