Victorian Doctors Warn Hospitals Unprepared for Ageing Population
Victorian doctors are calling for urgent investment in hospital beds, healthcare staff and community services as new research warns that Australia’s ageing population will place growing pressure on the health system.
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s State of Emergency 2026 report projects a 411% increase in emergency department visits by people aged 85 and over by 2050.
The report also found that more than 53,000 older patients across Australia spent over 24 hours in emergency departments waiting for a hospital bed during 2023–24.
Australian Medical Association Victoria President Dr Simon Judkins said Victorian hospitals were already struggling with long delays, ambulance ramping and complications linked to patients waiting too long for treatment.
He said hospital wards were also occupied by patients who no longer needed acute medical care but could not be discharged because rehabilitation, respite care, aged care beds and support at home were unavailable.
Dr Judkins warned that the pressure would increase as more Baby Boomers reached their 80s.
AMA Victoria is urging the next Victorian Government to prioritise funding for additional acute, subacute and rehabilitation beds in its first budget. The organisation also wants sufficient healthcare staff and ongoing funding to operate these services.
The association is calling for stronger cooperation between the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to expand services that help patients leave hospital safely.
It also wants every emergency department stay exceeding 24 hours to trigger a clinical and management review, corrective action and public reporting by the hospital.
Dr Judkins said governments had a clear warning about the future demands on hospitals and must act now to ensure the healthcare system can meet the needs of an ageing population.
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Source : Press Released.
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