Who used these hospital services?

The majority of separations for patients aged 85 and over (55% or 380,202) were for females (who account for 63% of the population in this age group) (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Proportion of separations for patients aged 85 and over by sex, 2014–15

This horizontal bar chart shows 55%25 of separations for patients aged 85 and over were for females, who account for 63%25 of the population in this age group.

Source: NHMD.

Patients aged 85–89 (who make up 64% of the population aged 85 and over) accounted for two-thirds of these separations (67%, 461,426). For patients aged over 100 there were 2.7 times as many female separations (2,686) compared to male separations (999) (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Proportion of separations for patients aged 85 and over by age group and sex, 2014–15

This stacked horizontal bar chart shows a higher proportion of separations are for males than females aged 85–89 but a higher proportion of separations for patients aged 90–94 and 95–99 are for females.

Source: NHMD.