The Illawarra Shoalhaven region is facing a **25% surge** in hospital bed block over the past year, significantly impacting patient care. As of **October 2025**, **125 beds** in local hospitals were occupied by patients awaiting aged care or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) placements, up from **101** in **October 2024**.
This situation has prompted strong reactions from local leaders, including **Ryan Park**, the New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Health. Park has called for immediate action from the federal government to increase the availability of aged care and NDIS placements to alleviate the growing pressure on hospitals.
The bed block crisis has far-reaching consequences, with patients experiencing prolonged waits in emergency departments and delays in surgeries. A notable case involved a man with acute appendicitis who waited almost two days for surgery at **Wollongong Hospital**, resulting in a burst appendix due to the lack of available beds.
Health Officials Sound Alarm
The **Community Industry Group**, which is leading a taskforce to address these issues, has labeled the Illawarra Shoalhaven’s bed block situation as the worst in the country. Its **CEO**, **Nicky Sloan**, has expressed concern over the impact of delayed discharges on the overall hospital system, stating, “When beds are occupied in our wards for longer than they should be, it has a general flow-on effect throughout the entire hospital, including our emergency departments.”
Minister Park echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the negative consequences of having patients wait indefinitely in hospital beds. He noted that the delays lead to longer wait times in emergency departments and for surgical procedures. “The Commonwealth government needs to deliver on its promise of more aged care and NDIS placements. Our hospital system was not designed for this,” he stated.
The federal government responded by highlighting its increase in funding to the NSW hospital system, amounting to **$985 million**—an **11%** rise for the current financial year. A spokesperson mentioned that nearly **$600 million** of federal funding is allocated for state-led initiatives aimed at addressing the delayed discharge of older patients, including approximately **$197 million** specifically for NSW over four years.
Addressing the Crisis
This funding is part of a broader **$1.2 billion** package approved by the national cabinet in **2023**, which supports various initiatives such as the **Aged Care Outreach Service** and in-home medical care programs. The federal government aims to prevent older individuals from requiring hospital care in the first place, although questions regarding the immediate need for additional aged care beds remain unanswered.
The latest quarterly report from the NDIS indicates that participants are now waiting an average of **16 days** to be discharged after being deemed medically ready, a reduction from a peak of **30 days** in **March 2023**. This statistic underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the system, but also suggests some progress in reducing discharge delays.
As the situation continues to evolve, the Illawarra Shoalhaven region’s healthcare system faces urgent demands for reform. It remains crucial for state and federal governments to collaborate effectively to ensure that patients receive timely care and that hospital resources are utilized efficiently. The rising number of patients stuck in the system highlights a pressing need for systemic changes in aged care and disability services to prevent future crises.
