How bed-blocked is your hospital?

Almost all of Australia’s 278 public hospitals with emergency departments are afflicted by bed block, but the pain is not spread evenly. This post shows the results for all of them – and why it’s suddenly got much worse.

Bed block happens when patients are kept in emergency departments for too long because no beds on specialist wards are available for them. It’s the key to what’s wrong with public hospitals in Australia and in many other countries. And it’s costing many lives.

Bed block results in overcrowded, clogged-up EDs, which in turn causes ambulance ramping because there’s no space – or available staff – to tend to patients waiting outside.

A huge body of Australian and overseas research shows how dangerous bed block is to patient health. For patients needing admission, but who are kept in the ED for eight hours or more, the existing risk of death increases by around 20%. That means that if you have a 10% risk of dying, bed block turns it into a 12% risk; and the longer you’re kept from specialist care, the worse that risk becomes. It is responsible for many thousands of premature deaths every year.

And when bed-blocked patients are finally transferred to an acute specialist ward, they spend longer than normal in that expensive bed.

The Australian researchers defined bed block as being kept in the ED for eight hours or more. As this table for 2024-25 shows, 211 of the 278 hospitals breach that threshold, with at least 10% of their patients – and usually a lot more – waiting even longer.

The most meaningful measure of bed block comes from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It’s the time waited in the ED at the 90^th percentile for patients subsequently admitted. To explain: that’s the time in which 90% have been admitted and 10% are still waiting. On that measure, the nation’s most overcrowded, overstretch hospital is at Rockhampton, on the central Queensland coast. There, 10% had to wait for longer than 35 hours and 10 minutes. Anything above about eight hours is seriously problematic but levels like Rockhampton’s are just plain dangerous.

RANK	HOSPITAL	STATE	HRS.MINS
1	Rockhampton Hospital	Qld	35.10
2	Milton Ulladulla Hospital	NSW	31.44
3	Bowral Hospital	NSW	31.36
4	Peel Health Campus	WA	31.01
5	Mersey Community Hospital	Tas	30.29
6	Macksville District Hospital	NSW	29.29
7	Hervey Bay Hospital	Qld	28.53
8	Launceston General Hospital	Tas	28.25
9	Gladstone Hospital	Qld	28.06
10	St John of God Midland Public Hospital	WA	27.25
11	Lithgow Hospital	NSW	27.07
12	Lightning Ridge Multi Purpose Service	NSW	26.58
13	Fairfield Hospital	NSW	26.51
14	Royal Adelaide Hospital	SA	26.34
15	Modbury Hospital	SA	26.25
16	Bathurst Base Hospital	NSW	26.00
17	North West Regional Hospital	Tas	25.54
18	Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital	WA	25.50
19	Wellington Health Service	NSW	25.36
20	Mildura Base Hospital	Vic	25.35
21	Wollongong Hospital	NSW	25.16
22	Blacktown Hospital	NSW	24.53
23	Dubbo Hospital	NSW	24.52
24	Coffs Harbour Hospital	NSW	24.51
25	Westmead Hospital	NSW	24.45
26	Maitland Hospital	NSW	24.44
27	Nepean Hospital	NSW	24.24
28	Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus]	Vic	24.00
29	Ballarat Health Services [Base Hospital]	Vic	23.59
30	Ipswich Hospital	Qld	23.59
31	Orange Health Service	NSW	23.53
32	Campbelltown Hospital	NSW	23.21
33	Goulburn Valley Health [Shepparton]	Vic	23.14
34	Bundaberg Base Hospital	Qld	23.03
35	Albury Wodonga Health [Albury Campus]	NSW	23.02
36	The Bendigo Hospital	Vic	22.41
37	Shoalhaven Hospital	NSW	22.33
38	Lyell McEwin Hospital	SA	22.31
39	Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital	NSW	22.29
40	Monash Medical Centre [Clayton]	Vic	22.22
41	St Vincent's Hospital [Darlinghurst]	NSW	22.21
42	Mackay Base Hospital	Qld	22.19
43	Goulburn Base Hospital	NSW	22.03
44	Liverpool Hospital	NSW	21.52
45	Northeast Health Wangaratta	Vic	21.41
46	Blue Mountains Hospital	NSW	21.38
47	Rockingham General Hospital	WA	21.14
48	Royal Prince Alfred Hospital	NSW	21.08
49	The Queen Elizabeth Hospital	SA	20.58
50	Kempsey District Hospital	NSW	20.57
51	Manning Hospital	NSW	20.53
52	Werribee Mercy Hospital	Vic	20.52
53	Joondalup Health Campus (Public)	WA	20.47
54	Wagga Wagga Hospital	NSW	20.45
55	Toowoomba Hospital	Qld	20.36
56	Box Hill Hospital	Vic	20.35
57	Sunshine Hospital	Vic	20.32
58	Redcliffe Hospital	Qld	20.22
59	Grafton Base Hospital	NSW	20.14
60	Western Hospital [Footscray]	Vic	20.06
61	Busselton Health Campus	WA	20.05
62	Flinders Medical Centre	SA	20.04
63	Townsville University Hospital	Qld	20.00
64	Casino and District Memorial Hospital	NSW	19.54
65	Maroondah Hospital [East Ringwood]	Vic	19.34
66	Geraldton Hospital	WA	19.33
67	Northam Hospital	WA	19.28
68	Noarlunga Hospital	SA	19.26
69	Port Macquarie Base Hospital	NSW	19.13
70	Redland Hospital	Qld	19.11
71	Griffith Base Hospital	NSW	19.07
72	Caboolture Hospital	Qld	19.06
73	Gosford Hospital	NSW	19.03
74	Royal Darwin Hospital	NT	19.03
75	St George Hospital NSW	NSW	19.00
76	Wimmera Base Hospital [Horsham]	Vic	18.56
77	Lismore Base Hospital	NSW	18.46
78	Wyong Hospital	NSW	18.38
79	Shellharbour Hospital	NSW	18.33
80	Dandenong Hospital	Vic	18.29
81	Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital	WA	18.26
82	John Hunter Hospital	NSW	18.22
83	Belmont Hospital	NSW	18.21
84	Royal North Shore Hospital	NSW	18.15
85	Sutherland Hospital	NSW	18.15
86	Latrobe Regional Hospital [Traralgon]	Vic	18.11
87	Gold Coast University Hospital	Qld	18.11
88	Royal Hobart Hospital	Tas	18.09
89	Ryde Hospital	NSW	18.06
90	Tamworth Hospital	NSW	18.03
91	Princess Alexandra Hospital	Qld	18.02
92	Calvary Mater Newcastle	NSW	18.00
93	Casey Hospital	Vic	17.38
94	Esperance Hospital	WA	17.36
95	Tomaree Community Hospital	NSW	17.29
96	Moruya Hospital	NSW	17.27
97	Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital	Qld	17.16
98	Batemans Bay Hospital	NSW	17.14
99	Queanbeyan Hospital	NSW	17.04
100	The Northern Hospital [Epping]	Vic	16.54
101	Blayney Multi Purpose Service	NSW	16.51
102	Cessnock Hospital	NSW	16.47
103	Fiona Stanley Hospital	WA	16.46
104	Prince of Wales Hospital	NSW	16.43
105	Northern Beaches Hospital	NSW	16.42
106	Royal Perth Hospital Wellington Street Campus	WA	16.35
107	Hawkesbury Hospital	NSW	16.34
108	West Gippsland Healthcare Group [Warragul]	Vic	16.32
109	Logan Hospital	Qld	16.24
110	The Tweed Hospital	NSW	16.13
111	Angliss Hospital	Vic	16.08
112	Coolamon-Ganmain Multi Purpose Service	NSW	15.57
113	Coonamble Multi Purpose Service	NSW	15.39
114	Frankston Hospital	Vic	15.33
115	The Alfred	Vic	15.22
116	Mount Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital	SA	15.09
117	Muswellbrook Hospital	NSW	14.59
118	Albany Hospital	WA	14.48
119	Junee Multi Purpose Service	NSW	14.47
120	Concord Repatriation Hospital	NSW	14.44
121	Tennant Creek Hospital	NT	14.41
122	Mater Adult Hospital	Qld	14.40
123	University Hospital Geelong	Vic	14.35
124	Swan Hill District Health [Swan Hill]	Vic	14.27
125	Cairns Hospital	Qld	14.22
126	Gunnedah Hospital	NSW	14.15
127	Mount Isa Base Hospital	Qld	14.10
128	Bairnsdale Regional Health Service	Vic	14.07
129	Sunshine Coast University Hospital	Qld	14.07
130	Bunbury Hospital	WA	14.03
131	Oberon Multi Purpose Service	NSW	14.00
132	Byron Central Hospital	NSW	13.52
133	Moree Hospital	NSW	13.52
134	Molong Health Service	NSW	13.50
135	Robina Hospital	Qld	13.45
136	Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service	SA	13.41
137	Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital	NSW	13.28
138	Hedland Health Campus	WA	13.23
139	Carnarvon Hospital	WA	13.20
140	St Vincent's Hospital [Melbourne]	Vic	13.13
141	Canterbury Hospital	NSW	13.00
142	Nambour General Hospital	Qld	12.90
143	Kurri Kurri Hospital	NSW	12.59
144	South East Regional Hospital	NSW	12.59
145	Lachlan Health Service - Parkes	NSW	12.57
146	Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital	Qld	12.52
147	Katherine Hospital	NT	12.50
148	Brewarrina Multi Purpose Service	NSW	12.40
149	Mount Druitt Hospital	NSW	12.40
150	Ballina District Hospital	NSW	12.39
151	Narrabri Hospital	NSW	12.38
152	Inverell Hospital	NSW	12.37
153	Austin Hospital [Heidelberg]	Vic	12.31
154	Alice Springs Hospital	NT	12.22
155	Auburn Hospital	NSW	12.19
156	Gove Hospital	NT	12.16
157	Rosebud Hospital	Vic	12.10
158	Armidale Hospital	NSW	11.54
159	Gawler Health Service	SA	11.50
160	Karratha Health Campus	WA	11.50
161	Nyngan Multi Purpose Service	NSW	11.46
162	Gympie Hospital	Qld	11.42
163	Mudgee Health Service	NSW	11.40
164	Central Gippsland Health Service [Sale]	Vic	11.40
165	Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital	SA	11.36
166	Bass Coast Health	Vic	11.27
167	South West Healthcare [Warrnambool]	Vic	11.20
168	Rylstone Multi Purpose Service	NSW	11.19
169	Coolah Multi Purpose Service	NSW	10.53
170	Gulgong Multi Purpose Service	NSW	10.47
171	Sydney Children's Hospital	NSW	10.47
172	North Canberra Hospital	ACT	10.47
173	Broome Hospital	WA	10.44
174	Scott Memorial Hospital, Scone	NSW	10.38
175	The Children's Hospital at Westmead	NSW	10.38
176	Maryborough Hospital	Qld	10.38
177	South Coast District Hospital	SA	10.37
178	Singleton Hospital	NSW	10.35
179	Kununurra Hospital	WA	10.17
180	Perth Children's Hospital	WA	10.09
181	Royal Melbourne Hospital [City Campus]	Vic	10.04
182	Northern Yorke Peninsula Health Service (Wallaroo)	SA	10.00
183	The Prince Charles Hospital	Qld	9.55
184	Palmerston Regional Hospital	NT	9.50
185	Collarenebri Multi Purpose Service	NSW	9.42
186	Deniliquin Hospital	NSW	9.39
187	Murwillumbah District Hospital	NSW	9.39
188	Broken Hill Hospital	NSW	9.36
189	Narrogin Hospital	WA	9.35
190	Batlow/Adelong Multi Purpose Service	NSW	9.32
191	Walgett Multipurpose Service	NSW	9.28
192	Kyogle Multi Purpose Service	NSW	9.26
193	Cooma Hospital and Health Service	NSW	9.23
194	Riverland General Hospital	SA	9.19
195	Port Pirie Regional Health Service	SA	9.12
196	Tocumwal Hospital	NSW	9.07
197	Kalgoorlie Health Campus	WA	9.02
198	Gloucester Soldiers' Memorial Hospital	NSW	8.50
199	Tenterfield Hospital	NSW	8.46
200	Queensland Children's Hospital	Qld	8.43
201	Gilgandra Multi Purpose Service	NSW	8.27
202	Sydney Hospital / Sydney Eye Hospital	NSW	8.22
203	Whyalla Hospital and Health Services	SA	8.22
204	Derby Hospital	WA	8.21
205	Young Hospital	NSW	8.15
206	Nimbin Multi Purpose Service	NSW	8.14
207	Tumbarumba Multi Purpose Service	NSW	8.12
208	Trangie Multi Purpose Service	NSW	8.07
209	Mercy Hospital for Women	Vic	8.07
210	Corowa Health Service	NSW	8.02
211	Culcairn Multi Purpose Service	NSW	8.02
212	The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital	Vic	7.58
213	Maclean District Hospital	NSW	7.55
214	Williamstown Hospital	Vic	7.55
215	King Edward Memorial Hospital	WA	7.53
216	The Canberra Hospital	ACT	7.49
217	Leeton Hospital	NSW	7.48
218	Tumut Hospital	NSW	7.48
219	Echuca Regional Health	Vic	7.48
220	Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville]	Vic	7.37
221	Lachlan Health Service - Forbes	NSW	7.36
222	Cowra Health Service	NSW	7.31
223	Quirindi Hospital	NSW	7.31
224	Glen Innes Hospital	NSW	7.29
225	Narrandera Hospital	NSW	7.29
226	Canowindra Soldiers Memorial Hospital	NSW	7.27
227	Port Augusta Hospital and Regional Health Services	SA	7.27
228	Boggabri Multi Purpose Service	NSW	7.25
229	Women's and Children's Hospital	SA	7.24
230	Grenfell Multi Purpose Service	NSW	7.11
231	Dungog Hospital	NSW	7.08
232	Guyra Multi Purpose Service	NSW	7.08
233	Lake Cargelligo Multi Purpose Service	NSW	7.08
234	Victorian Heart Hospital	Vic	7.04
235	Manilla Hospital	NSW	7.03
236	Wilson Memorial Community Hospital, Murrurundi	NSW	7.02
237	Berrigan Multi Purpose Service	NSW	7.01
238	Coonabarabran Health Service	NSW	6.70
239	Port Lincoln Health Service	SA	6.70
240	Peak Hill Multipurpose Service	NSW	6.59
241	Trundle Multi Purpose Health Service	NSW	6.57
242	Yass District Hospital	NSW	6.47
243	Narromine Health Service	NSW	6.34
244	Lockhart Hospital	NSW	6.32
245	Braidwood Multi Purpose Service	NSW	6.27
246	Barham Hospital	NSW	6.26
247	Royal Women's Hospital [Parkville]	Vic	6.26
248	Sandringham Hospital	Vic	6.25
249	Western District Health Service [Hamilton]	Vic	6.22
250	Cootamundra Hospital	NSW	6.15
251	Bellinger River District Hospital	NSW	5.59
252	Boorowa Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.59
253	Condobolin Health Service	NSW	5.54
254	Cobar Health Service	NSW	5.51
255	Wyalong Hospital	NSW	5.51
256	Jerilderie Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.47
257	Tottenham Multipurpose Service	NSW	5.40
258	Dunedoo Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.38
259	Dorrigo Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.31
260	Hay Hospital	NSW	5.31
261	Murrumburrah-Harden Hospital	NSW	5.27
262	Henty Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.26
263	Holbrook Hospital	NSW	5.18
264	Bombala Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.12
265	Balranald Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.08
266	Finley Hospital	NSW	5.08
267	Barraba Multi Purpose Service	NSW	5.01
268	Baradine Multi Purpose Service	NSW	4.60
269	Warren Multi Purpose Service	NSW	4.59
270	Bourke Multi Purpose Service	NSW	4.56
271	Hillston Hospital	NSW	4.56
272	Crookwell District Hospital	NSW	4.28
273	Temora Hospital	NSW	4.24
274	Gundagai Hospital	NSW	4.19
275	Urana Multi Purpose Service	NSW	4.19
276	Walcha Multi Purpose Service	NSW	4.14
277	Warialda Multi Purpose Service	NSW	4.04
278	Bingara Multi Purpose Service	NSW	3.42

Public hospitals are run by state and territory governments, so they have to take primary responsibility for the state of their systems. None do well, or even acceptably, but some stand out as particularly bad. Tasmania and New South Wales have the most troubled public hospital systems overall, and it shows in their bed-block data. Tasmania’s figure for 2024-25 was 26% above an unacceptably high national average; NSW was 10% above. Victoria and the Northern Territory were 6% and 13% below, respectively.

It hasn’t always been this bad. For years, bed block actually improved across all main hospital peer-groups. But that trend went into reverse after 2015-16. The trend climbed right through the pandemic, even though fewer people were going to hospital then and staff reported less overcrowding and less daily chaos. Since then, the average levels have stabilised at new, high levels.

Although the pain was spread fairly evenly across all main hospital peer-groups, from large to small, large regional hospitals generally fared worse than either city-based or smaller regional hospitals. This probably reflects a failure by state governments to build enough in major regional cities.

There’s a reason for all of this, and it has to do with state and federal governments pursuing for far too long a lazy, oblivious approach to planning and resourcing. At least a decade ago, it should have been obvious to planners that a shakeout was about to happen.

For many years, patient numbers across the nation grew faster than bed numbers. Hospitals managed this largely by reducing the time people spent in hospital until, finally, they couldn’t kick people out quicker-and-sicker than they already were. That point was reached by all state systems within a year or two of 2015-16. The two trajectories – length of stay and bed block – coincided precisely. At this time also, per-patient costs stopped falling and started to soar, as hospitals became more overcrowded and less efficient.

In the most-effected hospitals, the sudden surge in bed-block happened far faster than the average figures indicate. At Rockhampton, the problem tripled in less than a decade. At Gladstone, also on the coast of central Queensland, it quintupled.

Of the ten worst-affected, only the Launceston General Hospital showed little change – but that’s because it has had appalling figures for so long. For many years, this was the nation’s worst-affected institution. Its change from first place to eighth is not because it got better but because so many others got worse.

There is one clear answer: build more hospitals and extend the ones we already have.

When it became impossible to reduce length of stay any further, the number of beds should, from that point, have at least matched the increase in patient numbers. But it didn’t. Governments went on building at around the same rate they always had, as if nothing momentous had occurred.

But it had.