Introduction
Hospitals are an important part of Australia’s health landscape, providing services to many Australians each year. A summary measure of their significant role is the amount that is spent on them – an estimated $69 billion in 2016–17, about 4% of Australia’s gross domestic product, or $3,046 per person. Hospital spending has increased faster than inflation – up 2.8% each year (adjusted for inflation), on average, between 2011–12 and 2016–17.
This summary report presents an overview of statistics on access to our hospital services, the quality of the services, and their funding and management arrangements.
Where to go for more information
More detailed statistics and information on how to interpret the data are in the companion reports:
- Elective surgery waiting times 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics
- Emergency department care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics
- Bloodstream infections associated with hospital care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics
- Admitted patient care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics
- Hospital resources 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics
- Non-admitted patient care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics.
Information on private hospital resources and private hospital emergency department activity was sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ publication Private hospitals Australia, 2016–17.