Emergency Doctors Call for Better GP Funding to Support Older Australians
14 Oct 2026
In its State of Emergency 2026 report, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) highlighted the pressure on emergency departments, where some older patients face long waits for hospital beds and are treated in corridors or on chairs.
The report found that emergency department visits by older Australians rose by 16% between 2018–19 and 2023–24, compared with a 4% increase among younger people. During 2023–24, more than 53,000 older patients waited over 24 hours in emergency departments for a hospital bed.
ACEM says stronger funding for general practice could help older people receive regular care, manage long-term conditions and remain healthy at home or in residential aged care. It has also called for changes to the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) to ensure the payments fairly support both small and large practices.
Dr Peter Allely, ACEM President, said gaps in access to timely care outside hospitals were adding to overcrowding, ambulance delays and long waits for admission.
Dr Anthony Marinucci, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Aged Care, supported better funding and a simpler GPACI system. He said the scheme should cover the costs of providing regular care, including for practices looking after smaller numbers of aged care residents.
The report also called for at least 10,000 additional residential aged care beds each year by 2028, alongside plans to ensure enough GPs, nurses and specialist support are available to care for residents.
Emergency Doctors Call for Better GP Funding to Support Older Australians
Source: Australasian College for Emergency Medicine – State of Emergency