George Davis thought retirement would be the best time of his life.

But the 80-year-old spends each day travelling 100 kilometres to sit by his wife, Petronella, in hospital.

But Ms Davis is not sick. The 79-year-old has rapidly progressive dementia and is no longer able to be cared for in the home the couple has shared for 60 years.

Ms Davis is a "stranded" patient, one of 1,000 people in Queensland taking up a public hospital bed while waiting for a more permanent care solution.

"She doesn't like it, she can't understand why she's still not in a nursing home,"

Mr Davis said.

On Sunday, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Health Minister Tim Nicholls called on the federal government to "take responsibility" for aged and disability care.

Mr Nicholls said the federal government w

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