There were 6.14 million hospital admissions recorded in 2001, up
4.1% compared with 1999-00, according to Australian Hospital
Statistics 2000-01, released today by the Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare.
The private hospital share was 2.27 million admissions,
approximately 12% up on 1999-00. Private hospital overnight stays
increased by 6% and same-day stays increased by 17%.
In contrast, the public hospital's 3.85 million was a 0.1%
decrease on the previous year. Overnight stays fell by about 1.3%
and same-day stays rose by 1.3%.
Private hospitals' share of hospital admissions rose from 34.3%
to 37.0%.
Head of the AIHW's Hospitals and Mental Health Services Unit,
Jenny Hargreaves, said that the increase in private hospital
admissions reflected that sector's increase in same-day
hospitalisations-192,000 more in 2000-01 than in the previous
year.
'There were over 20,000 more private hospital admissions each
for chemotherapy, renal dialysis and colonoscopy, all usually same
day procedures. There were also 53,000 more non-same day
hospitalisations in private hospitals,' Ms Hargreaves said.
Private patients can be treated in public hospitals, and public
(or Medicare) patients in private hospitals. In all hospitals
combined, there were 3.45 million hospitalisations for public
patients (0.4% fewer than in 1999-00), and 2.12 million
hospitalisations for private patients (other than DVA and
compensable patients)-9.6% more than the previous year.
This increase in hospitalisations for private patients followed
the rise in private health insurance coverage that occurred with
the introduction of the Federal Government's 'Lifetime health
cover' insurance arrangements.
The average length of stay in public acute hospitals remained
the same as the previous year-3.9 days overall, and 6.4 days when
same-day admissions are excluded. In private hospitals, the average
length of stay continued to decrease-to 3.0 days overall, and to
5.7 days without same-day admissions.
The number of available public acute hospital beds nationwide
remained about the same as the previous year-50,188 beds in 1999-00
and 50,113 beds in 2000-01.
The average cost per stay in public hospitals (adjusted for
patient condition and case complexity) was $2,834 .
State figures ranged from around $2,700 in Queensland, to $2,800
in Victoria and South Australia, $2,900 in New South Wales, Western
Australia and Tasmania, and about $3,300 in the Australian Capital
Territory and the Northern Territory. Differing State/Territory
methodologies and hospital types make fine comparisons among States
and Territories difficult.
Total public hospital expenditure in 2000-01 was $15.5 billion,
an increase of 2.7% in real terms on 1999-00 expenditure.
The median waiting time for elective surgery in public hospitals
was 27 days in 2000-01, and 90% of patients had been admitted for
their surgery within 202 days. Most surgical specialties had median
waiting times of less than 30 days.
28 June 2002
Further information: Ms Jenny Hargreaves, AIHW,
tel. 6244 1121
or 0407 915 851
Formedia copies of the report:
Publications Officer, tel. 02 6244 1032, or check this website for
the Media Highlights
Summary.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.