Australia's ageing population strains emergency departments

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

Australian emergency departments are overwhelmed with older patients, with over-65s' hospital visits rising 16 per cent in six years.

Australia's emergency departments are struggling to cope with an ageing population. Over the six years to 2024, hospital visits from over-65s rose 16 per cent, compared to just four per cent for younger people, according to a report from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine released on Tuesday.

Most older patients arrive by ambulance, the vast majority need care within 30 minutes and about half are admitted to hospital. For every 72 patients who wait longer than eight hours in emergency, one will die. The proportion of patients discharged within that critical window has fallen from over 95 per cent.

The problem is particularly acute in regional Australia, which is ageing at double the speed of capital cities. Dr Peter Allely, president of the college, said the increase in older emergency presentations was twice as high in the regions as elsewhere. The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicted in 2010 that the number of over-85s presenting to emergency departments would grow more than fivefold by 2050. Dr Allely said those forecasts were proving accurate. "This is not the fault of older people, it is a success story, it's testament to modern science, medical advances and good public policy," he said.

How it is being reported

• People living longer makes ailing health system sickerPoor planning has clogged Australia's emergency departments with older, sicker people and the problem is worse in the regions.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 17:34
• People living longer makes ailing health system sickerPoor planning has clogged Australia's emergency departments with older, sicker people and the problem is worse in the regions.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 17:34

In this story: Australia · Australasian College of Emergency Medicine · Peter Allely · Australian Bureau of Statistics

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