BEDS
The average number of beds available in Acute and psychiatric hospitals during 2008-09 was 24,685, 1.1% higher than in 2006-07 when there were 24,427 beds available.
Acute and psychiatric hospitals operated by religious or charitable institutions provided 43% (10,688) of available beds during 2008-09. Of these, 78% (8,349) were located within capital cities. Acute and psychiatric hospitals operated by religious or charitable institutions were more likely to be larger, in terms of number of beds, accounting for 21% of the 113 hospitals with up to 50 beds, whereas they accounted for 44% of hospitals with 101-200 beds, and 55% of hospitals with over 200 beds.
Capital City Statistical Divisions accounted for 75% of all available beds in Acute and psychiatric hospitals in Australia in the 2008-09 cycle, similar to 2006-07. At the same time, over 14.7m (69%) of Australia's population lived in these areas (see Regional Population Growth, Australia cat. no. 3218.0). Since the 2006-07 cycle, there has been an increase in the average number of beds available in the capital cities by 313 beds, but a decrease in the average number of beds in regional Australia by 55 beds.
The occupancy rate in Acute and psychiatric hospitals was 82%, compared with 79% in 2006-07. The occupancy rate was higher in hospitals located in the Capital City Statistical Divisions (84%), compared with 76% in the rest of Australia. This was an increase on the previous cycle where 81% and 72% were recorded for Capital City Statistical Division and the Rest of Australia respectively.
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