Summary

Non-admitted patient care provided by public hospital services includes care provided in outpatient clinics at which patients consult specialist medical practitioners, or have diagnostic or other procedures, or are provided with allied health or specialist nursing care. This report summarises this type of hospital care for 2016–17.

Non-admitted patient care can also include care provided in emergency departments; the dispensing of medicines; and district nursing and community health services provided by hospitals. Information about these activities is not included in this report.

How much non-admitted patient activity was reported?

In 2016–17, there were 36.7 million non-admitted patient care service events reported for 602 public hospitals and 31 other services that provided non-admitted patient care for public patients (including local hospital networks and some private hospitals in Western Australia).

What types of services were provided?

In 2016–17:

  • 45% of service events (16.2 million) were in allied health and/or clinical nurse specialist intervention clinics—the most commonly reported clinics were Midwifery and maternity and Primary health care (2.2 million and 2.0 million service events, respectively)
  • 32% (11.7 million) were in medical consultation clinics—the most commonly reported clinics were General practice and primary care and Orthopaedics (1.4 million and million service events, respectively)
  • 15% (5.5 million) were for diagnostic services—the most commonly reported services were Pathology (microbiology, haematology, biochemistry) and General imaging
  • (2.9 million and 1.7 million, respectively)
  • 8% (3.0 million) were in procedural clinics—the most commonly reported clinics were Dental and Radiation therapy - treatment (1.1 million and 839,000 service events, respectively).

Who used these services?

For 71% of non-admitted patient service events (25.9 million), information on the characteristics of the patient was available. In 2016–17:

  • 56% of service events were for females, who accounted for 72% of events for people aged 15–44 (the age range that includes the most services for Obstetrics and Midwifery and Maternity)
  • 33% of service events were for people aged 65 and over
  • 5% of service events were for Indigenous Australians.

How were services funded?

In 2016–17, most non-admitted patient service events (86%) in public hospitals were funded by the jurisdiction’s health service budget. The Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS funded an additional 13%, and smaller numbers were funded through compensation schemes and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.