Public and private hospital admissions continue to increase,
according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW).
Australian Hospital Statistics 1999-00 shows that there
were 5.9 million hospital admissions recorded in 1999-00, up 2.8%
compared with 1998-99.
The private hospital share was 2.0 million, approximately 6.8%
up on 1998-99. Private hospital overnight stays increased by 5% and
same-day stays increased by 10%.
In contrast, the public hospital share of 3.9 million was a 0.4%
rise on the previous year. Overnight stays fell by about 2% and
same-day stays rose by 3%.
In terms of patient-days, the private hospital increase on the
previous year was around 5.1% compared with 0.6% for public
hospitals.
Head of the AIHW's Patient Morbidity and Mental Health Services
Unit, Jenny Hargreaves, says that the increase in private sector
admissions reflected that sector's bigger increase in same-day
hospitalisations.
While patient numbers were up overall, the average length of
stay was unchanged in public acute hospitals at 3.9 days, while it
fell slightly in private hospitals to 3.1 days.
Reasons for this difference include the different mix of cases
in the two sectors, and the slower increase in same-day operations
in the public sector.
'When you take the same-day admissions out of the picture, the
average lengths of stay are more similar between the sectors at
around 6 days, although private hospital stays are still a little
shorter', Ms Hargreaves said.
'For nine out of the ten most common operations/procedures,
however, the length of stay in private hospitals was higher than in
public hospitals-for example, for childbirth without complications
the average stay was 4.8 days in a private hospital and 3.1 days in
a public hospital.'
The number of available public hospital beds nationwide
continued to decline, down to 52,497 beds from 53,885 beds in
1998-99.
The average cost per stay in public hospitals (adjusted for
patient condition and case complexity) was $2,728, compared with
$2,611 in 1998-99.
State figures ranged from $2,500 to $2,600 in Victoria,
Queensland, and South Australia to around $2,800 in New South Wales
and Tasmania, $3,200 in the Australian Capital Territory, $3,300 in
Western Australia, and $3,400 in the Northern Territory. Differing
State/Territory methodologies and hospital types make fine
comparisons among States and Territories and years difficult.
Total public hospital expenditure in 1999-00 was $14.4 billion,
an increase of 2.6% in real terms on 1998-99 expenditure.
29 June 2001
Further information: Ms Jenny Hargreaves, AIHW,
(02) 6244.1121 or 0407 012 520
Media highlight summaries: Publications Officer, AIHW,
(02) 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.