Bed block surges by over 50% in NSW hospitals, minister says

Natasha May

Bed block in NSW hospitals has surged by over 50% in the last year, according to data released by the state government.

It comes as states and territories across the country have raised the issue as a central part of their argument to get more funding for hospitals from the commonwealth, with bed block primarily caused by patients unable to get alternative accommodation in aged care and supported disability accommodation which are federal responsibilities.

They remain in a stalemate over the public hospital funding agreement, with health ministers at all levels to meet on Friday.

The number of patients exceeding their estimated date of discharge in NSW public hospitals because they are waiting to access a commonwealth aged care or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) placement increased from 747 patients to 1,151 in the year to 30 September 2025.

This is according to data the NSW health minister, Ryan Park, has today released. Of those patients, the growth in patients needing the aged care beds was most significant rising from 443 to 829 in the year period, while demand for NDIS supported accommodation rose more modestly from 304 to 322.

Park also released a breakdown of the growth in bed block in the largest and busiest hospitals in the state (known as level five and six hospitals).

Westmead had the highest number – 60 – of those patients exceeding their date of discharge as at September 2025, followed by Wyong in the central coast with 48.

The greatest percentage increase in these patients in a year’s period was seen at Calvary Mater Newcastle jumping 600% from six patients in September 2024 to 42 patients a year later, followed by a 500% increase at St George Hospital in south-west Sydney rising from five to 30 patients.