Ryan Park
NSW Minister for Health
NSW Minister for Regional Health
NSW Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast

Anika Wells
Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport

Alison Byrnes
Federal Member for Cunningham

Residents in the Illawarra are now set to benefit from an expanded Transitional Aged Care Program, which has welcomed its first patients this month with 20 beds to be operational at Figtree Private Hospital by 30 November.

The program allows local hospitals to safely discharge patients who will benefit from additional therapy services to restore their function whilst making a decision on their long term aged care options.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the opening of additional Transitional Aged Care Program beds at Figtree is the result of a funding collaboration between the NSW and the Commonwealth Governments, providing an alternative for patients who will benefit from additional therapy services whilst waiting in a residential style setting following discharge from hospital.

“We are committed to reducing unnecessary lengths of stay in hospital experienced by our older people and linking them to services which can improve their functional capacity,” Mr Park said.

“This is part of a broader plan to ease pressure on local hospitals whilst ensuring elderly patients receive the right care closer to home.

“This program is another important part of strengthened models of care and targeted initiatives to improve access to services and the flow of patients through hospitals.’’

Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport said the temporary places will help improve the health and independence of older people in the Illawarra.

“The Transitional Aged Care Program in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) is partly funded through the Commonwealth Transition Care Programme,” Minister Wells said.

“The Albanese Government’s $40 million investment in the Transition Care Programme will give older people peace of mind that support will continue to be there for them, where and when they need it most.”

Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes welcomed the news the program had begun admitting patients.

“It has been a terrific collaborative effort to get to this point, and it’s wonderful to see the first patients discharged from hospital into a more appropriate care environment to support their functional improvement while they, consider their longer-term aged care options,’’ said Ms Byrnes.

“The Federal Government will continue to work productively with the NSW Government as we develop sustainable solutions to the ongoing challenges facing the health and aged care systems.’’

The Transitional Aged Care ward is located within a refurbished section of Figtree Private Hospital and is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.

There are currently around 90 patients in ISLHD hospitals who are medically well, but cannot be discharged because they do not have suitable care arrangements in place.

ISLHD is working closely with elderly patients and their families to deliver the most appropriate care for their needs and recognise the challenges faced by residential aged care providers.