How has this changed over time?
Between 2005–06 and 2014–15, the number of deaths in hospital increased by almost 8% overall—from 71,447 in 2005–06 to 76,856 in 2014–15 (Figure 2). This compares with an overall increase of 39% in the number of all separations over the same period, so the proportion of separations that ended in death declined from 1.0% in 2005–06 to 0.7% in 2014–15.
In 2005–06, deaths in hospital represented about 55% of the 130,714 total deaths in Australia in 2005; and in 2014–15 deaths in hospital represented about 50% of the 153,580 total deaths in 2014 [1]. The information in this spotlight on total deaths is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics [1] and it is compiled separately from the information on hospital deaths. The ABS data presented are reported by the calendar year of registration of death, whereas the information on hospital deaths is presented by financial year of occurrence. Therefore, the ABS data and the AIHW data are not entirely comparable. For more information see Explanatory notes 7–9in the ABS publication Deaths, Australia (ABS cat. no. 3302.0).
Figure 2: Deaths in hospital, 2005–06 to 2014–15
Source: NHMD.