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Why do we collect hospital data?
Before the mid-1980s, hospital statistics were not regularly compiled on a national basis. There had been few efforts to ensure that definitions and terms used in the states and territories were consistent, and attempts at comparing the performance of the public hospital sectors of the states and territories had been difficult.
Since then governments and other hospital funders have taken an increasing interest in the monitoring and planning of hospital service provision in Australia and, specifically, in containing the costs of hospitals, measuring their outputs and ensuring their services are efficient, appropriate and of high quality. As a result, statistics on Australian hospitals and their patients have had an increasingly important role to play at the Australian Commonwealth and state and territory level, and within the private sector.
How do I access hospital data online?
Hospital data can be accessed in AIHW's annual publications that summarise the characteristics and activity of Australian hospitals.
Hospital data can also be accessed through interactive data cubes.
What data are available?
Hospital data are available from the following collections:
How do I request data?
To request data from any of the data collections listed above, email Hospital Unit. A charge may apply depending upon the exact requirements and complexity of the analysis undertaken.