Australia’s acute care system: Do we need more hospital beds or fewer?

Associate Professor Sandeep Reddy Professor Grant Phelps Affiliate Associate Professor John Rasa

Recent coverage of the pressures on public hospitals and acute care delivery across Australia – compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare workforce shortages – has emphasised how vulnerable the Australian acute care system really is.

As hospitals represent the face of the modern healthcare system, and cost the most in terms of healthcare spending, their problems are emphasised more than other parts of the healthcare system.