EDs 'not adequately equipped' for aging population, report says
The nation's peak body for emergency doctors has warned that long emergency department waits are common because of surging demand driven by Australia's aging population.
Emergency departments in Australia are struggling to cope with the needs of an aging population, according to a new report. The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) warns that hospitals are not adequately equipped to handle the surge in demand driven by the growing number of older patients. Nationally, only 54 percent of older people who visited emergency departments in 2023-24 received an inpatient bed within eight hours, a significant decline from 75 percent in 2018-19.
Perth grandmother Elsie Gribben waited nearly 48 hours in the corridors of a hospital, unable to access basic facilities, a situation that her daughter Susan Chapman says is not limited to one facility. The ACEM attributes the issue to the inadequate infrastructure in most hospitals and emergency departments to manage the increased patient load caused by Australia's aging population.
The college has highlighted the need for urgent action, warning that the health system's current state will leave many Australians without timely emergency care. Federal Health and Aging Minister Mark Butler attributes the responsibility to state and territory governments, urging them to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability.
The ACEM has recommended several measures, including better integration between hospitals and aged care, increased funding, improved access to general practitioners, and enhanced data and research capabilities.
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