Tasmania’s health minister is calling on the federal government to act on hospital bed block, saying 78 Tasmanians are stuck in hospital beds waiting for aged care placements.
Bridget Archer is raising the issue with the Commonwealth at the health ministers meeting in Sydney today, alongside her state and territory counterparts.
According to figures released by the ministers, the Tasmanian number has risen from 55 in mid-2025 to 78 in mid-2026, an increase of more than 40%.
Nationally, more than 3,600 patients are stranded in public hospitals waiting for a Commonwealth aged care placement, up from more than 2,700 a year earlier.
Queensland has the largest number at 1,272, followed by New South Wales on 1,027, South Australia on 476 and Western Australia on 423.
The ministers say that when patients cannot be discharged, ward beds cannot be used, surgeries cannot go ahead and emergency department waits grow longer.
“Too many Tasmanians remain stuck in our hospitals, sometimes for weeks and even months at a time, because the federal government has not provided them with the aged care or NDIS supports needed,” Archer said.
“These Tasmanians are not just statistics. They are Tasmanians who deserve dignity, compassion and a proper place to recover.”
“While the Tasmanian government will always provide high-quality care, the ongoing lack of leadership and support from the federal government is unacceptable.”
All states and territories are calling on the Commonwealth to fund more Support at Home packages to move stranded patients back into home settings.
Almost 100,000 people are on the national waiting list.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, who chairs the meeting, said the rise in bed block was “accelerating” and had become “far beyond sustainable”.
SA Health Minister Blair Boyer said the country needs an additional 10,000 aged care beds each year, but delivered just 800 last year.
