In 2002-03, over four million Australians were admitted to our public hospitals, over half a million people had elective surgery and nearly four million people went to an emergency department for treatment.
The State of our public hospitals, June 2004 report provides the community with information about the performance of Australia’s 750 public hospitals. It draws on hospital data between 1998 - 2003 provided to the Australian Government by the states and territories each year under the Australian Health Care Agreements.
Over the five years covered by this report, the Australian Government invested more than $31 billion in our public hospitals. The State of our public hospitals, June 2004 report provides information on how that money has been spent. The Australian Government will continue to publish this report annually.
The June 2004 report is the first time that data on public hospitals has been presented in this form. It includes information about what has happened in hospitals in each state and territory so everyone can see how their hospitals have performed.
Some key facts in the report are: in 2002-03, Australia’s busiest hospital was the Royal Melbourne; almost half of all patients are admitted and discharged on the same day; and the average cost for an admitted patient is about $3,000, nearly a third of which is nursing costs.
The report does highlight some differences in public hospital performances between the states and territories. South Australians are more likely to get elective surgery within the recommended time. However, Tasmanians who needed a hip replacement waited longer for their operation than people in other states and territories. People living in the ACT or Victoria had the best chance of being treated on time in an emergency department.