Up to one in 10 public hospital beds are taken by “stranded” patients awaiting alternative accommodation in aged care and supported disability accommodation, a new report shows – bolstering calls for more federal health funding.

The report on the drivers of public hospital costs was commissioned by state and territory treasurers to inform negotiations on the next national health reform agreement (NHRA) with the commonwealth government.

Its release on Friday comes as state and territory leaders have this week accused the commonwealth of “going backwards” on its funding commitments to public hospitals.

The report, by Prof Stephen Duckett together with Create Health Advisory, found four main drivers increasing public hospital costs: a high-inflation environment; workforce shortages; in

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