In an effort to save a bit in the health system, the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District has advised the officials to consider a new model of care for aged patients.

The authority suggested that the hospital stays of the elderly patients should be cut to halve to save more than $2-billion in the health system. They added that the elderly patient's average stays of 22 days for some procedures can be reduced to 10 followed by the patient's after care at their homes.

But State Opposition has expressed concern about the plan as the Opposition's health spokesman, Dr. Andrew McDonald said the action will send the elderly patients home even before they are ready.

He explained that taking an elderly patient home means lots of things should be set in place first. The above plan would take patients to a home before it is properly modified to make them safe.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Mr. Terry Clout has confirmed that the program will be extended. "What it's doing is for predominately elderly patients, but not only elderly patients, is that it's looking at intensive therapy at a much earlier stage in a patient's stay in hospital", he said.