Australian Hospital Statistics 1995-96, to be released
by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on Monday, shows
that between 1994-95 and 1995-96 hospital admissions across
Australia increased by about 5 percent, to 5.2 million. Of these,
70% were to public hospitals and 30% to private hospitals. The
report also shows a 2.4% overall increase in the total number of
days hospital beds were occupied.
The average length of stay for public acute and private
hospitals decreased slightly, from 4.5 to 4.3 days, while the
percentage of same day patient admissions continued to rise.
Ms Jenny Hargreaves from the AIHW's Health Division said that in
1995-96 over 40% of the 5.2 million admissions to public acute and
psychiatric and private hospitals were for same day patients. "For
private hospitals the percentage of same day admissions was almost
50%", she said.
Other findings of Australian Hospital Statistics
1995-96 include:
- Salaries and wages comprised over 60% of total public hospital
operating costs.
- The main categories of employees in public hospitals were: over
40% nurses; 13% diagnostic and health professionals; 14%
administrative and clerical staff; 19% domestic and other staff;
and just over 7% salaried medical officers.
- Between 1994-95 and 1995-96 the total number of public
hospitals in Australia increased from 745 to 756 and the average
number of available beds for admitted patients increased
marginally, from 59, 273 to 59,720.
- Australian Hospital Statistics 1995-96 includes national
patient-level data according to the reported principal diagnosis
and principal procedure, as well as Australian National Diagnosis
Related Group (DRG) classification.
- The report includes a diskette with extended tables of
separation, patient-day and length of stay statistics for the 200
most frequently reported diagnoses and principal procedures.
30 June 1997
Further information: Jenny Hargreaves, ph. 02
6244 1121.
For general media enquiries: Lyn Elliott, ph. 02
6244 1034.
For media copies of the report (170pp.): Mark
McCarthy, ph. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications Catalogue
for details.