The Statement of Commitment on Emergency Medicine Preparedness for Population Ageing warns that health systems are at a tipping point, with ED presentations by older persons across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand escalating significantly.
Emergency physicians are urging governments and health services to act now to prepare hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) for projected challenging increases in patient numbers due to ageing populations.
Older persons currently account for around one quarter of ED presentations. Assuming medium population growth compared with 2010, ED presentation projections for 2050 reveal a 177 per cent increase in total ED presentations, with an increase to 242 per cent and 411 per cent in ED presentations by people aged 65–84 and 85+ years respectively. Due to the complex nature of their health needs, the projected growth in older person presentations will, without urgent strategic action, have disproportionate impacts on healthcare systems.
However, ED hospital bed capacity is in fact declining, with the number of beds available for every 1000 Australians aged over 65 in 2025 at the record low number of 14.3, less than half of the capacity in the early 1990s.
ACEM President-Elect Dr Peter Allely said the College had chosen the UN International Day of Older Persons to release its new statement to highlight the scale of the problem and prompt governments and health authorities to address this urgent issue which will overwhelm EDs if no action is taken.
“The College strongly advocates for the growing number of older persons in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to have equitable access to person-centred emergency care, which both optimises healthcare outcomes and improves the sustainability of acute services for all,” Dr Allely said.
“Significant ageing of the populations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is a fact, placing additional pressure on EDs across both our countries. EDs are already stretched, with health systems experiencing workforce and resourcing shortages, as well as staff burnout.
“Pressures in aged care due to ageing populations are further driving challenges across both our nations including ED overcrowding, ambulance ramping and access block.
“In Australia alone, almost 2500 older persons are currently stuck in public hospitals waiting for an aged care bed. The projections from ACEM’s Statement show that without urgent action this problem is only going to get worse in years to come,” he said.
“ACEM looks forward to working with all levels of government and healthcare stakeholders to help relieve pressures on ED staff and patients to build a more sustainable health system that continues to provide high-quality emergency care.”