NSW health minister warns aged‑care funding gap may push elderly to EDs

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park warned that the exclusion of respiratory assistive technology, specifically CPAP machines, from the new Support at Home program under the Albanese government’s aged‑care reforms could lead to more older patients presenting to emergency departments. Federal Aged Care Minister Sam Rae said states had rejected a $2 billion offer through the National Health Reform Agreement and highlighted delayed discharges, or “bed block”, as the biggest pressure point for hospitals.

The reforms, which began on 1 November, separate funding for core care so older Australians do not have to forgo essential services to afford assistive devices. However, CPAP machines remain unfunded under both the former Home Care Packages and the new Support at Home scheme, resulting in some NSW patients being denied the devices. The federal government has pledged more than $1 billion in aged‑care capital grants, including $115 million for hotspot regions such as Illawarra and the Hunter, to address the shortfall.