Federal and State Governments invest $40M on 35 care places to ease pressure on Shoalhaven/Illawarra hospitals

Older hospital patients in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, the region immediately south of Sydney, may now be able to leave hospital earlier, after Federal and State Governments announced a $40 million investment in an additional 35 Transition Care Programme (TCP) places in the region.

The investment will also cover extending the 230 TCP places that are currently available beyond 30 June 2023.

The TCP provides short-term care and support, such as low intensity therapy and nursing, to older people for up to 12 weeks after they are discharged from hospital. It is funded 75% by Federal and 25% by State Governments. 

According to NSW Health, over the last 12 months there has been an average of 92 local hospital patients every day in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven classified as ready for transfer to residential aged care but unable to move due to a shortage of beds. Historically, that number has been 30-40 patients per day.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is now negotiating with Figtree Private Hospital to enable the opening of a 20-bed ward in its facility. Recruitment is underway.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “This relief package will enable more elderly patients, who are well enough for discharge, to be cared for in a more appropriate facility while at the same time making more hospital beds available.”

The SOURCE: Next week, read Warrigal Acting CEO Alissa Walsh’s outline of the challenges that aged care homes are facing in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven region, causing homes to close and putting pressure on the health system.