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Private hospitals service provision

APHA facts on private hospitals

About this document

Private hospitals provide a wide range of services and are an integral part of the Australian health system. For patients, it is important to have a range of choice, so it is possible to opt for the delivery of care that is best for them.

The following information has been put together for APHA members to help understand the private sector better and to assist in the promotion of the sector.

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Admitted patient care

The private hospitals sector treats 2 in 5 of all patients in Australia.

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41%

59%

Private Public

Patient days

1 in 3 patient days in Australia take place in the private hospital sector.

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32%

68%

Private Public

Hospital beds

Private hospitals and day surgeries provide 1 in 3 hospital beds in Australia.

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Service categories

Private hospitals and day surgeries provide the following broad categories of service:

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Medical37%

Surgical 37%

Specialist mental health

4%

Childbirth2%

Other 20%

Private hospital patient cohorts

Private health insurance

82%

Self-funded8%

Department of Vet-erans' Affairs

5%Public patients

3%Workers compen-

sation2%

Motor vehicle third party personal claim

0%Other

1%

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Elective surgery

Private hospitals and day surgeries perform 2 in 3 elective surgeries in Australia.

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Chemotherapy treatment

Private hospitals and day clinics provide more than 45% of chemotherapy treatments.

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Private Same-day

46%

Public Same-day

26%

Public Outpatient

28%

Eye surgery

Private hospitals and day surgeries perform more than 70% of eye surgeries.

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Cardiac procedures

Private hospitals and day surgeries perform nearly half (47.5%) of all heart surgeries in Australia.

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Rehabilitation services

Private hospitals treat 70% of people admitted for rehabilitation.

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Psychiatric services

Private psychiatric hospitals care for more than 32,000 people per year.

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Serving older Australians

Private hospitals and day surgeries admit 2 in 5 patients aged 65 or older.

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Serving Australian veterans

Private hospitals and day surgeries admit more than 3 in 5 veterans who need treatment.

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Sources

• AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2013. Australian Hospital Statistics 2011–12. Health services series 50. Cat. no. HSE 134. Canberra: AIHW.

• AIHW 2014. Australian Hospital Statistics 2012–13. Health services series. Cat. no. HSE 145. Canberra: AIHW.

• PMHA (Private Mental Health Alliance) 2014. Annual Statistical Report, 2012–13.

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