Hospitals at a glance 2017–18

This section presents information that can be used to assess the accessibility of admitted patient services.  

Age group and sex

Between 2013–14 and 2017–18, hospitalisations for people aged:

• 65 to 74 increased by an average of 5.9% each year, faster than the average annual population growth for this age group (4.1%)
• 85 and over increased by an average of 4.7% each year, faster than the average population growth for this age group (3.5%).

In 2017–18 people aged 65 and over, who make up 15% of Australia’s population, accounted for 42% of hospitalisations and 48% of patient days.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In 2017–18, compared with other Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were hospitalised:

• 2.6 times as often overall (after accounting for age)
• twice as often for overnight stays 
• 13 times as often for same-day dialysis
• about the same for other same-day cute care, and for subacute/non-acute care.

Remoteness

In 2017–18, hospitalisation rates were highest for patients living in Very remote areas (90% higher than the national rate).

About 85% of hospitalisations for patients living in Very remote areas were in public hospitals, compared with 55% for patients living in Major cities.

Socioeconomic status

In 2017–18:

• for public hospitals, the rates were highest (30% higher than the national rate) for patients living in areas classified in the lowest (most disadvantaged) SES status group
• for private hospitals, the rates were highest for patients living in areas classified in the highest (least disadvantaged) SES status group.