NDIS and Aged Care Delays Strain Hospitals: A Growing Challenge for Patients and Services

More than 1,300 people in NSW, including NDIS participants and older Australians, are currently stuck in hospitals despite being medically ready to go home or move into more appropriate care. This growing challenge is putting immense pressure on our health system and, more importantly, on individuals and their families.

This “bed block” means patients who no longer need acute hospital care cannot leave because they are waiting for crucial Commonwealth-funded aged care or NDIS support. For many, this translates to weeks or even months spent in a hospital environment when they could be recovering and living with greater independence elsewhere.

The situation has worsened significantly, with the number of people facing these delays increasing by almost 300 in the past year alone. NSW Health estimates this figure could reach nearly 1,700 by June 2027 if current trends continue unchecked.

The Human Cost of “Bed Block”

When someone is medically ready for discharge, it means they no longer require the intensive care provided in a hospital. However, they still need support for their ongoing health and daily living needs. For NDIS participants, this often involves waiting for suitable accommodation, such as Supported Independent Living (SIL) or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), or for their NDIS plan to be fully implemented to provide in-home care or other essential services.

Being stuck in a hospital beyond medical necessity can have a profound impact. It can lead to a loss of independence, muscle deconditioning, and significant emotional distress. Hospitals are designed for acute treatment, not long-term living, and are often unsuitable environments for recovery and rehabilitation, particularly for people with disability.

This challenge also strains hospital resources. Currently, one in every eight beds accessible from NSW emergency departments is occupied by someone who is medically cleared but cannot leave. This is up from around one in ten a year ago, directly impacting the availability of beds for new patients coming through emergency who genuinely need acute care.

Where Delays Are Most Felt

The impact of these delays for NDIS and aged care support is being felt across many of Sydney’s busiest hospitals. While older people waiting for aged care account for much of the increase, NDIS participants are also part of this growing challenge.

In South Eastern Sydney, the number of patients waiting for aged care or NDIS support jumped from 68 to 157 in the year to June 2026. St George Hospital saw one of the largest increases, rising from 17 to 64 patients. Prince of Wales Hospital also experienced a significant increase, from 20 to 47.

South Western Sydney saw its numbers rise from 118 to 180, including increases at Bankstown (15 to 30), Campbelltown (37 to 54), and Liverpool Hospitals (22 to 52). Western Sydney’s numbers increased from 99 to 111, with rises at Blacktown (17 to 22) and Westmead Hospitals (50 to 62).

NSW Government Responds to Aged Care Delays

The NSW Government is investing $35.7 million into an Aged Care Response Package, specifically aimed at addressing discharge delays for older people. This package includes initiatives designed to keep older people well and safely at home, reducing the need for hospital stays.

These initiatives include expanding Aged Care Outreach Services, which provide short-term multidisciplinary care in the home, and rolling out Virtual Specialist Geriatric Care for people aged 65 and over. While these measures are focused on aged care, they highlight the broader need for community-based support to prevent unnecessary hospitalisations and enable earlier discharges.

The NSW Government is also working with the Commonwealth, which funds both aged care and the NDIS, to expand these vital services outside of the hospital setting.

Improvements in Emergency Department Performance Amidst Challenges

Despite the significant strain from “bed block,” recent quarterly data from the Bureau of Health Information shows some improvements in overall emergency department (ED) performance across NSW.

The percentage of patients treated on time in EDs improved from 62.8 per cent four years ago to 68.7 per cent in the April to June quarter. Crucially, the proportion of patients with life-threatening conditions (known as triage category two) treated on time also improved. Ambulance transfers to EDs became more timely, increasing from 72.5 per cent to 80.3 per cent over the same period.

These improvements coincide with increased investment in alternative care pathways, such as Healthdirect calls, which divert many people to non-ED healthcare options like local GPs and virtual care, and an expansion of virtual care services and urgent care services across the state. NSW has also seen increased recruitment of health workers, including nurses, paramedics, doctors, and allied health professionals.

What This Means for NDIS Participants and Providers

For NDIS participants and their families facing discharge delays, it’s a stark reminder of the challenges within the system. It highlights the critical importance of early and proactive discharge planning with hospital social workers, NDIS Local Area Coordinators (LACs), or the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Advocating for appropriate NDIS plan reviews or exploring options for suitable housing and support services should begin as early as possible during a hospital stay. Communication between the hospital, the NDIS participant’s support coordinator, and the NDIA is vital to ensure that a comprehensive discharge plan is in place.

For disability service providers, this situation underscores the growing demand for diverse and flexible housing and support options. There is a clear need for providers to work closely with hospitals and participants to facilitate smooth transitions from hospital to home or other suitable accommodation, helping to ease the pressure on our health system and improve outcomes for people with disability.

As Minister for Health Ryan Park noted, “Waiting indefinitely in a hospital is not good for patient mobility, recovery or quality of life.” Addressing this complex issue requires continued collaboration between state and federal governments, health services, and disability and aged care sectors to ensure that all Australians receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Hazel Chen

I work in marketing and communications for NDISLocal, helping connect NDIS participants, families, and providers with clear, useful information about the sector. I'm passionate about making the NDIS easier to understand and navigate, and about giving disability service providers a platform to reach the people who need them. If you'd like to know more about anything covered in this post, or you're a provider interested in being featured, feel free to get in touch.