In a recent casual conversation, I inquired about how hospitals are managing the challenges posed by Covid. To my surprise, the nurse’s response highlighted a different issue— the scarcity of available hospital beds. Some beds were occupied by patients ready for discharge but lacked suitable places to go. Notably, individuals with disabilities faced barriers in finding appropriate homes or securing adequate funding, leading to prolonged hospital stays. As of October 2022, an estimated 1,400 NDIS participants awaited discharge.
The concerning reality is that individuals with disabilities endure an average wait of 160 days for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to facilitate their discharge.
Recognizing the urgency of this issue, there is a dedicated commitment to implement measures to alleviate the prolonged wait for hospital discharge among people with disabilities:
- Increased Staff Support:
- Augmenting the number of dedicated Hospital Discharge staff for each state and territory.
- Introducing additional Hospital Liaison Officers (HLOs) and NDIS hospital discharge planners.
- Streamlined Processes:
- Enhancing the delegation of staff responsibilities and streamlining processes to expedite decision-making.
- Commitment to Communication:
- A pledge from the NDIA to contact every NDIS participant (or their authorized representative or nominee) within four days of being notified of their admission.
- Efficient Discharge Plan Approval:
- A commitment from the NDIA to approve the NDIS discharge plan within 30 days.
- Improved Data Collection and Reporting:
- Implementing enhanced data collection and reporting mechanisms to measure progress against commitments and identify reasons for any delays.
To assist those ready for discharge, some individuals with disabilities will be provided with MTA/STA while seeking a permanent home. For those in search of a ready-to-move-in forever home, please explore the available options on our website.
By Peach Morato