4390.0 - Private Hospitals, Australia, 2009-10  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/06/2011   
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MEDIA RELEASE
17 June, 2011
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
76/2011

Patient activity within private hospitals continues to grow

The number of patients who were discharged from private hospitals grew by 6.7% in 2009-10, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

There was an increase in the number of private hospital beds across Australia in 2009-10. Acute hospitals increased by 286 beds (1.2%), while free standing day hospitals increased by 327 beds (13.1%). The only reduction was in psychiatric hospitals which were reduced by 45 beds (-2.9%). Acute hospitals were recorded as having 23,465 beds, psychiatric hospitals 1,461 and free standing day hospitals 2,822.

The total number of procedures in private hospitals increased by 1.2% compared to the 2008-09 period. Of these procedures approximately 77% were performed in acute and psychiatric hospitals with the remaining attributable to the free standing day hospitals (23%).

The total number of private hospitals increased during 2009-10 to bring the total Australian private hospitals to 581. The majority of the increase in numbers of private hospitals was in Victoria, with 9.

The total income of private hospitals rose by 9.0%, and expenditure by 9.9%, for a net operating margin of 8.6%. The majority of the increase in expenditure was in wages and salaries, which were up 10.8% and repairs and maintenance, up 8.2%. The majority of the increase in income was in patient revenue, up 9.9% from 2008-09.

Further information is available in Private Hospitals, Australia, 2009-10 (cat no. 4390.0)


Media notes:
  • Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • Patient separations in this survey is used as a marker for patient activity and is defined as the total number of patients discharged from hospital.