Federal health funding: States threaten to hold up deal, as aged care patients languish in hospitals

States are threatening to hold up a health deal and major NDIS reforms until the Albanese government stumps up billions more dollars for hospitals, building a campaign with a new report showing that up to one in 10 hospital bed days is occupied by people waiting to go into nursing homes or disability care.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, leading the charge on behalf of state treasurers whose budgets are struggling with the growing cost of running hospitals , released research from former federal Health Department head Stephen Duckett, who found extra pressure on health spending was coming from patients stranded in hospitals.

Together with inflation, workforce shortages and people’s more complex care needs, this contributed to a 12 per cent yearly increase in health costs, which was putti