All information in this publication refers to persons aged 45 years and over who had at least one general practitioner (GP) visit in the 12 months between November 2014 and November 2015.
People are admitted to hospitals for emergency and elective care, covering medical, surgical and maternity services. Hospital admissions include planned and unplanned admissions, and in some cases patients are not required to stay overnight. Respondents were asked about the frequency and duration of their hospital admissions (excluding hospital emergency department visits), as well as their experience post hospitalisation.
FREQUENCY OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
Nearly one in five people (22%) were admitted to hospital in the last 12 months. People aged 65 years and over were more likely than those aged 45 to 64 years to have been admitted to hospital (27% compared with 18%).
Of people who were admitted to hospital in the last 12 months, almost two thirds of people (65%) aged 45 years and over reported having been admitted to hospital once, while almost one third (32%) were admitted more than once. Men were more likely than women to report being admitted to hospital two or more times in the last 12 months (35% compared with 29%). People aged 65 years and over were more likely than people aged 45 to 64 years to have reported being admitted to hospital two or more times in the last 12 months (36% compared with 27%).
TYPE AND DURATION OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
Just over one quarter (28%) of those who indicated they had been admitted to hospital in the last 12 months did not stay overnight. Not staying overnight was more common for those aged 45 to 64 years (33%) than those aged 65 years and over (22%).
People who were admitted to hospital were asked for the total number of nights that they stayed in hospital in the last 12 months:
17% stayed one night
26% stayed two to five nights
12% stayed six to ten nights
7% stayed 11 to 20 nights
5% stayed 21 or more nights
28% did not stay overnight in hospital
It was more common for those aged 65 years and over than those aged 45 to 64 years to report that they stayed in hospital for 21 or more nights (7% compared with 3%).
Footnote(s): (a) For persons aged 45 years and over who had at least one GP visit in the 12 months between November 2014 and November 2015 (b) Number of nights stayed in hospital in the last 12 months (c) Excludes stays in a hospital emergency department
Source(s): Survey of Health Care: Summary of Findings
Around two in three people (67%) indicated that their most recent admission to hospital in the last 12 months was planned. People aged 45 to 64 years were more likely than those aged 65 years and over to indicate that their most recent hospital admission was planned (72% compared with 63%).
EXPERIENCE POST HOSPITALISATION
All respondents who had been admitted to hospital in the last 12 months were asked about arrangements made for them by the hospital following their hospital admission, whether they knew who to contact with questions regarding their condition or treatment, and whether their GP or usual place of care seemed informed following their hospital admission.
With relation to their most recent hospital admission, almost all (95%) indicated they knew who to contact if they had questions about their condition or treatment post hospitalisation. Most people (87%) indicated they had arrangements made by the hospital for services needed after their hospital admission or they did not need any services after their most recent hospital admission.
People who had been admitted to hospital in the last 12 months were asked whether their usual GP or others in their usual place of care seemed informed about their follow up needs or medication changes after their most recent hospital admission:
66% reported that their usual GP or others in their usual place of care seemed informed about their follow up needs or medication changes
12% did not have follow up needs or medication changes
3% did not see their usual GP or others in their usual place of care after their hospital admission (or had not yet seen their usual GP or others in their usual place of care after their hospital admission)
7% stated that their usual GP or others in their usual place of care did not seem informed about their follow up needs or medication changes after their most recent hospital admission and
4% had to inform their usual GP or others in their usual place of care about their follow up needs or medication changes.
Those aged 65 years and over were more likely than those aged 45 to 64 years to indicate that their usual GP or others in their usual place of care seemed informed about their follow up needs and medication changes following their recent hospital admission (73% compared with 58%).
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