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Australia healthcare faces strain from ageing population and rural funding gaps
Australia’s healthcare system is facing significant strain due to an ageing population and widening regional disparities. A report from the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) reveals that older people, who comprise only 17% of the population, accounted for nearly 25% of all emergency department (ED) presentations in 2023–24. Presentations by older patients increased by 16% between 2018–19 and 2023–24, while the number of older patients waiting more than 24 hours in the ED more than tripled to over 53,000.
ACEM warns that the system is not equipped for the projected 411% surge in patients aged 85 and over by 2050. While 87% of older patients are discharged within the eight-hour target, only 54% of those requiring admission meet this window. The pressure is particularly acute in regional areas, where ED presentations for older people have increased at roughly double the rate of metropolitan centers.
Simultaneously, the National Rural Health Alliance has reported a growing funding gap between metropolitan and rural healthcare. The shortfall in health expenditure has risen to $9.23 billion, with rural Australians receiving an average of $1,218 less per person annually than city residents. The report highlights a severe specialist shortage in rural areas, noting that metropolitan regions have over 20 times as many specialist doctors per capita as small rural towns.
Entities
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine · Australasian College of Emergency Medicine · Australia · Australian Bureau of Statistics · National Rural Health Alliance · Peter Allely · Susi Tegen
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The health expenditure shortfall between metropolitan and rural Australia has increased to $9.23 billion. www.smh.com.au · 7news.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] More than 53,000 older patients spent longer than 24 hours in the emergency department before being admitted to an inpatient bed in 2023–24. theageingagenda.com.au · www.medicalrepublic.com.au
- [● 4 SOURCES] Presentations by older people to emergency departments increased by 16% between 2018–19 and 2023–24. theageingagenda.com.au · startsat60.com · theqldr.com.au · 7news.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Older people accounted for nearly 25% of all emergency department presentations in 2023–24, despite making up 17% of the population. theageingagenda.com.au · www.medicalrepublic.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] While 87% of older people were discharged from the ED within the eight-hour target, only 54% of those admitted were discharged within that timeframe. theageingagenda.com.au · www.medicalrepublic.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The number of patients aged 85 and over presenting to emergency departments is forecast to increase by 411% by 2050. 7news.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Metropolitan areas have more than 20 times as many specialist doctors per capita as small rural towns. www.smh.com.au · 7news.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] One in two emergency department presentations among older people resulted in hospital admission in 2023–24. theageingagenda.com.au