EDs 'not adequately equipped' for aging population, report says

Hospital corridors filled with patients in pain and lengthy emergency department waits are becoming common as Australia struggles with an aging population, the nation's peak body for emergency doctors has warned.

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) has released its third annual State of Emergency report focusing on the implications of an aging population and the looming health system crisis that could come with it.

Nationally, only 54 per cent of older people who presented at emergency departments in 2023–24 were given an inpatient bed within eight hours, a decline from 75 per cent in 2018–19, according to data collated by the ACEM.

The figures mark a worrying trend which the college said is ongoing.

Perth grandmother Elsie Gribben waited almost 48 hours in the corridors of the St John of God Midland Hospital in March, her daughter Susan Chapman told the ABC.

"She couldn't walk, she was left unsupervised at times in a corridor. She was given wet wipes to wipe herself and wasn't able to get access to the toilet," Ms Chapman said.

"It was something you expect in a world war."

Ms Chapman said she had visited various hospitals since and the situation had not improved.

"It's not just one hospital, it's across the board. All the nurses I speak to are pretty much fed up with the way that they're being treated," she said.

'Not adequately equipped'

The crux of the issue, according to the ACEM, is that most hospitals and emergency departments are not adequately equipped to deal with the surging demand caused by Australia's aging population.

In 2023–24 the number of older people presenting at EDs increased by 16 per cent from five years earlier, compared to four per cent for younger patients, according to the ACEM's report.

Comparing the same periods, the number of older people who waited longer than 24 hours in EDs jumped from 15,084 to 53,510, a 3.5-fold increase.

The ACEM found that while younger patients were waiting longer in EDs, a much larger proportion of older people had lengthy stays, and the gap was widening.

Every jurisdiction except the Australian Capital Territory saw an increase in the number of older patients waiting in EDs for more than eight hours, when comparing 2018–19 data to 2023–24.

ACEM president Peter Allely said pressures on the aged care system are spilling into emergency departments.

"Unless these serious issues are addressed as a matter of urgency, emergency care will come too late for many Australians," he said.

Dr Allely said an aging population was proof of progress in medicine, but warned Australia's health system was not ready to cope.

"By 2030 it is projected that nearly one in five Australians will be aged 65 and over," he said.

"Australia's health system and its health workforce are just not equipped for this demographic change."

Responsibility of state and territory governments

Federal Health and Aging Minister Mark Butler said the responsibility of improving the health system lay with state and territory governments.

"There are real pressures facing the aged care system right now and we continue to work with states and territories in good faith," he said.

"It is time for state governments to deliver on their promises to give Australians access to health services when and where they need them."

Mr Butler said his highest priority was improving healthcare accessibility and affordability, and the federal government had already made "historic investments to take pressure off state and territory hospitals".

The ACEM has made recommendations to state and federal governments, including to improve integration between hospitals and aged care, funding, access to general practitioners, data, and research.