HEALTH
SELECTED HEALTH CHARACTERISTICS
According to results from the 2004-05 National Health Survey (NHS), 59% of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents aged 15 years and over rated their health as either excellent or very good.
For all ACT residents, the most common long term conditions reported in the NHS were Short sightedness and Long sightedness at 27% and 25% respectively. These were followed by Hayfever and allergic rhinitis at 22%, and Back pain/symptoms and Mental and behavioural problems at 14% each.
Of ACT residents aged 65 years and over, almost half (49%) reported Arthritis as a long term condition. This was the second most reported condition for this age group, behind Long sightedness (56%). Forty-three per cent reported in the NHS they had Consulted a GP/specialist in the two weeks prior to being surveyed, while almost one-fifth (19%) had Consulted an other health professional.
Ten per cent of people aged 65 years and over reported they had High/very high psychological distress, compared with 12% of people aged 18-64 years.
The most reported risk behaviour by people aged 18-64 years was consuming Four serves or less of vegetables per day (90%), which was followed by Sedentary/low exercise level (63%). Next were One serve or less of fruit per day and Overweight/obese (49% respectively). The least reported risk behaviours of this age group were Risky/high alcohol risk (15%) and Current daily smokers (17%).
7.1 SELECTED HEALTH CHARACTERISTICS, ACT: Weighted estimates - 2004-05 |
|  |
| | Children 1-14 years | Children 15-17 years | 18-64 years | 65 years and cver | Total | |
| | % | % | % | % | '000 | |
| |
| Self assessed health status | | | | | | |
| Excellent/very good | . . | 86.8 | 60.3 | 35.7 | 149.6 | |
| Good | . . | 10.5 | 28.4 | 29.8 | 70.3 | |
| Fair/poor | . . | 2.6 | 11.3 | 34.4 | 34.2 | |
| Selected long term conditions(a) | | | | | | |
| Arthritis | np | np | 12.6 | 49.0 | 41.2 | |
| Asthma | 9.9 | 9.2 | 10.4 | 9.7 | 32.3 | |
| Back pain/problems n.e.c. & disc disorders | np | np | 17.3 | 24.8 | 44.9 | |
| Deafness (complete/partial) | 1.7 | 5.7 | 8.2 | 29.6 | 27.6 | |
| Diabetes mellitus | - | - | 2.1 | 19.5 | 10.0 | |
| Hayfever & allergic rhinitis | 13.4 | 22.7 | 24.8 | 15.9 | 68.5 | |
| Heart, stroke & vascular conditions(b) | np | np | 2.8 | 18.1 | 11.8 | |
| Hypertensive disease | - | - | 9.8 | 40.3 | 32.3 | |
| Long sightedness | 3.4 | 3.9 | 28.4 | 56.3 | 79.0 | |
| Malignant neoplasms | - | - | 1.5 | 8.3 | 5.5 | |
| Mental & behavioural problems | 7.1 | 8.5 | 15.7 | 16.5 | 43.6 | |
| Osteoporosis | - | - | 1.8 | 18.2 | 9.1 | |
| Short sightedness | 4.3 | 18.0 | 32.3 | 38.2 | 84.6 | |
| High/very high psychological distress(c) | . . | . . | 12.4 | 9.7 | 29.1 | |
| Risk behaviours | | | | | | |
| Current daily smokers | . . | . . | 16.9 | 4.9 | 37.2 | |
| Risky/high alcohol risk | . . | . . | 14.7 | 11.3 | 34.5 | |
| Sedentary/low level exercise | . . | 51.4 | 62.9 | 72.0 | 160.9 | |
| Overweight/obese | . . | 15.3 | 49.1 | 46.0 | 119.4 | |
| 1 serve or less of fruit per day | . . | 49.9 | 48.5 | 31.9 | (d)123.2 | |
| 4 serves or less of vegetables per day | . . | 95.6 | 90.1 | 87.5 | (e)239.7 | |
| Actions taken in previous 2 weeks | | | | | | |
| Hospital inpatient(f) | np | np | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.2 | |
| Visited casualty/outpatients/day clinic | 3.1 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 6.5 | 13.4 | |
| Consulted GP/specialist | 13.4 | 12.6 | 18.8 | 43.4 | 62.4 | |
| Consulted dentist | 7.9 | 7.9 | 5.3 | 8.3 | 19.5 | |
| Consulted OHP(g) | 10.6 | 7.3 | 14.2 | 19.4 | 43.3 | |
| Days away from work/study | 11.5 | 15.5 | 9.1 | - | 28.5 | |
| Other days of reduced activity | 6.5 | 9.8 | 12.8 | 18.7 | 37.9 | |
| All persons ('000) | 62.5 | 13.0 | 212.3 | 28.7 | 316.5 | |
| |
| . . not applicable |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated |
| (a) Conditions which have lasted or are expected to last for 6 months or more. |
| (b) Includes ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, oedema and heart failure, and diseases of the arteries, arterioles and capillaries. |
| (c) Kessler 10 scores of 22 or more. |
| (d) Aged 12 years and over, includes those who did not eat fruit. |
| (e) Aged 12 years and over, includes those who did not eat vegetables. |
| (f) Discharged from a stay in hospital. |
| (g) Other health professional. |
| Source: National Health Survey 2004-05: Summary of Results. (cat. no. 4362.0) |
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Health statistics provide information about people's health and the provision of health services. The World Health Organisation has defined health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition of health is reflected in changing attitudes to health care where emphasis is now placed on preventative measures to protect health. Preventative measures involve the identification and avoidance of health risk factors and the greater involvement of communities in the management and organisation of health services.
Health services in the ACT are provided by the Commonwealth, the ACT Government, private individuals, companies and voluntary organisations. Health care is available from public and private hospitals, medical practitioners and a broad range of community health services concerned with both the treatment and prevention of ill health. All health professionals are required, under statutory authority, to register annually with the board established for each profession.
At 30 June 2005, there were 9,214 registered health professionals in the ACT, up 573 practitioners from 2004 (8,641). Sixty-two per cent of this increase was due to registered nurses, up 355 persons. Registered nurses recorded the highest number of registered health professionals in the ACT in 2005 (4,257), more than doubling the number of the next largest occupation, Medical practitioners (2,046). Podiatrists was the only occupation that registered a decline between 2004 and 2005 (down six practitioners).
7.2 REGISTERED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, By occupation - ACT - At 30 June 2005 |
| |
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| no. | no. | no. | no. | no. | |
| |
| Chiropractors | 41 | 46 | 48 | 49 | 53 | |
| Dental hygienists | 30 | 34 | 38 | 41 | 45 | |
| Dental specialists | 35 | 39 | 40 | 38 | 38 | |
| Dental technicians | 59 | 63 | 69 | 82 | 82 | |
| Dentists | 199 | 241 | 255 | 250 | 250 | |
| Enrolled nurses | 722 | 833 | 751 | 782 | 804 | |
| Medical practitioners | 1 721 | 1 806 | 1 886 | 1 945 | 2 046 | |
| Optometrists | 63 | 74 | 83 | 94 | 96 | |
| Osteopaths | 26 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 36 | |
| Pharmacists | 355 | 352 | 359 | 365 | 396 | |
| Physiotherapists | 321 | 336 | 327 | 354 | 365 | |
| Podiatrists | 39 | 43 | 46 | 46 | 40 | |
| Psychologists | 497 | 554 | 615 | 660 | 706 | |
| Registered nurses | 3 745 | 3 858 | 3 881 | 3 902 | 4 257 | |
| Total | 7 853 | 8 305 | 8 427 | 8 641 | 9 214 | |
| |
| Source: ACT Health, Annual Report 2004-2005. |
HOSPITALISATION
Separations
Separation refers to the process by which an admitted patient completes an episode of care by either being discharged, dying, transferring to another hospital, or changing type of care (for example, from having an acute illness to rehabilitation). Data are only available for public hospitals in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
In-patient hospital services in the ACT are provided by public services at The Canberra Hospital and the Calvary Public Hospital. In-patient hospital services for private patients in the ACT are provided by the Calvary Private Hospital, the John James Memorial Hospital and the National Capital Private Hospital.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), there were 69,029 public hospital separations in the ACT during 2003-04. This was an increase of 5,286 separations (8%) from 2002-03. Nationally, there were 4.2 million public hospital separations during 2003-04, an increase of 3% (109,524 separations) compared with 2002-03.
Same day separations
Some patients are admitted into hospital and separate on the same day. Over the last four years, same day separations in ACT public hospitals have steadily increased. During 2003-04, some 39,024 patients had same day separations in public hospitals (57% of separations).
Average length of stay
The average length of stay for patients admitted to ACT public hospitals was 3.4 days during 2003-04. This was similar to the average length of stay for the previous three years.
During 2003-04 for the ACT, the average length of stay, excluding same day separations, was 6.5 days, compared with 6.6 days in 2002-03. The national average length of stay in 2003-04, excluding same day separations, was 6.7 days.
7.3 HOSPITAL SEPARATIONS(a), ACT |
| |
| | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | |
| |
| Separations (no.) | | | | | |
| Public hospitals | 61 308 | 61 945 | 63 743 | 69 029 | |
| Private hospitals | 24 606 | 27 186 | np | np | |
| Total | 85 914 | 89 131 | np | np | |
| Same day separations (no.) | | | | | |
| Public hospitals | 32 305 | 33 292 | 36 145 | 39 024 | |
| Private hospitals | 11 797 | 13 127 | np | np | |
| Total | 44 102 | 46 419 | np | np | |
| Average length of stay (days) | | | | | |
| Public hospitals | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | |
| Private hospitals | 3.3 | 3.1 | np | np | |
| Total | 3.5 | 3.4 | np | np | |
| Average length of stay, excluding same day separations (days) | | | | | |
| Public hospitals | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.5 | |
| Private hospitals | 5.3 | 5.1 | np | np | |
| Total | 6.0 | 6.0 | np | np | |
| Separations per 1,000 population(b) | | | | | |
| Public hospitals | 209.4 | 216.3 | 219.7 | 235.6 | |
| Private hospitals | 83.1 | 93.9 | np | np | |
| Total | 292.5 | 310.3 | np | np | |
| Patient days (no.) | | | | | |
| Public hospitals | 216 270 | 220 017 | 219 493 | 235 195 | |
| Private hospitals | 80 236 | 84 333 | np | np | |
| Total | 296 506 | 304 350 | np | np | |
| |
| np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated |
| (a) Separations for which the care type was reported as Newborn with no qualified days, and records for Hospital boarders and Posthumous organ procurement have been excluded. |
| (b) Figures are directly age-standardised to the Australian population. |
| Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04. |
ACCESS TO ELECTIVE SURGERY
Access to elective surgery is based on a clinical assessment of the need for surgery. For December 2005, the mean and median waiting times were:
- Mean Waiting Times for December 2005:
Category 1 (Admission within 30 days desirable) 15 days
Category 2 (Admission within 90 days desirable) 115 days
Category 3 (Admission at some time in the future) 225 days.
- Median Waiting Times for December 2005:
Category 1 (Admission within 30 days desirable) 15 days
Category 2 (Admission within 90 days desirable) 70 days
Category 3 (Admission at some time in the future) 138 days.
There were a number of additions to and removals from the waiting list in December 2005. They were:
7.4 ELECTIVE SURGERY WAITING LIST, Additions and removals |
| |
| December 2005 | Year to 31 December 2005 | |
| |
| Additions to | 675 | 5 191 | |
| All removals | 686 | 5 230 | |
| |
Source: ACT Health, Clinical Operations, Health Performance Unit, Data available on request.
Removals include: those who have been admitted for surgery; those who have been treated elsewhere; those who are not contactable; those who no longer require or have declined surgery; and those who have transferred to another waiting list.
NON-ADMITTED PATIENT CARE AND OCCASIONS OF SERVICE
In 2003-04, there was a total of 437,649 individual occasions of service for non-admitted patients in ACT public hospitals. The highest serviced areas were Other medical/surgical/obstetric ( 204,816 occasions), Accident & emergency (97,145), and Radiology and organ imaging (62,506).
7.5 NON-ADMITTED PATIENTS, ACT - 2003-2004 |
| |
| Non-admited patient care | |
| no. | |
| |
| Accident & emergency | 97 145 | |
| Pathology | 33 982 | |
| Radiology & organ imaging | 62 506 | |
| Other medical/sugical/obstetric | 204 816 | |
| Mental health | 4 819 | |
| Pharmacy | 513 | |
| Allied health | 10 190 | |
| Community health | 7 238 | |
| Other outreach | 16 440 | |
| Total individual occasions of service | 437 649 | |
| |
| Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics, 2003-04. |
AVERAGE MEDICARE USE AND BENEFITS
Medicare covers people who are normally resident in Australia, except for foreign diplomats and their dependents. Other people are also covered in certain circumstances, for example, visitors from countries with which Australia has reciprocal health care agreements. Public patients in public hospitals are not charged for medical services or hospital accommodation costs. Funding for these services comes from both the Australian Federal Government as well as State and Territory governments.
Medicare provides rebates for medical services, including some optometrical and dental services, rendered on a 'fee-for-service' basis. Rebates are paid by the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) for items listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. They exclude services to public patients in hospital, services to Veterans' Affairs patients, and some compensation cases.
In 2004-05, the HIC paid Medicare benefits of $128.3m to people enrolled in Medicare with an ACT address. The average value of benefits paid that year was $395 per person, an increase of about $51 per person from 2003-04. Nationally in 2004-05, the average value of benefits paid was higher at $488 per person. For males, the average value of benefits paid nationally ($605 per male) was almost double that paid in the ACT ($309 per male).
Of all states and territories, the ACT maintained the second lowest average value of benefits per person, after the Northern Territory at $249 per person.
7.6 AVERAGE SERVICES AND BENEFITS, Per person - 2004-05 |
| |
| Average number of services | Average value of benefits | |
| ACT | Aust. | ACT | Aust. | |
| Sex | no. | no. | $ | $ | |
| |
| Male | 9 | 12 | 309 | 605 | |
| Female | 11 | 14 | 479 | 570 | |
| Persons | 9 | 12 | 395 | 488 | |
| |
| Source: Department of Health and Ageing, Medicare Statistics, December quarter 2005. |
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
At 31 December 2005, there were a total of 171,103 people covered by private health insurance in the ACT. This was an increase of 2,290 people from 31 December 2004 (168,813).
The ACT continued to maintain a higher proportion of the population with private health insurance than any other state or territory. At 31 December 2005, 53% of the ACT's population was covered by private health insurance, which was higher than the national proportion of 43%.
In the ACT, most private health cover was taken out by people in the age group of 45-49 years ( 15,319 people), followed by people aged 50-54 years ( 15,303 people) and 55-59 years ( 14,616 people).
7.7 TOTAL HOSPITAL MEMBERSHIP, ACT - at 31 December |
| |
| | | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| |
| Persons covered | | | | | | | |
| Males | no. | 85 521 | 80 756 | 80 810 | 81 265 | 82 190 | |
| Females | no. | 91 901 | 86 919 | 87 015 | 87 548 | 88 913 | |
| Persons | no. | 177 422 | 167 675 | 167 825 | 168 813 | 171 103 | |
| Percentage of population | % | 57 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 53 | |
| |
| Source: Private Health Insurance Administration Council, Annual Coverage Survey - 31 December. |
AUSTRALIAN ORGAN DONOR REGISTER
The Australian Organ Donor Register is administered by Medicare Australia on behalf of the Australian Government and provides a simple way for people to record their consent (or objection) to becoming an organ and/or tissue donor for transplantation.
As at 31 December 2005 in the ACT, a total of 10,664 people ( 6,313 females and 4,351 males) had registered their consent to be organ and tissue donors on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
The 25-34 year age group had the highest number of registrations for females (1,451), while the highest number of registrations for males was in the 35-44 year age group (881). Nationally, 710,706 people ( 407,633 females and 303,073 males) have registered their consent as organ and tissue donors.
7.8 NUMBER OF AUSTRALIAN ORGAN DONOR REGISTRATIONS(a), By age group and sex - at 31 December 2005 |
| |
| | 16-17 years | 18-24 years | 25-34 years | 35-44 years | 45-54 years | 55-64 years | 65 years and over | Total | |
| |
| Males | | | | | | | | | |
| ACT | 83 | 358 | 846 | 881 | 810 | 726 | 647 | 4 351 | |
| NSW | 1 953 | 4 740 | 9 085 | 13 749 | 14 720 | 17 567 | 21 658 | 83 472 | |
| Vic. | 1 047 | 5 014 | 11 206 | 13 615 | 12 948 | 12 459 | 12 270 | 68 559 | |
| Qld | 8 474 | 3 477 | 7 580 | 10 502 | 10 841 | 11 909 | 12 300 | 65 083 | |
| SA | 6 682 | 2 057 | 2 887 | 4 150 | 4 606 | 5 427 | 6 820 | 32 629 | |
| WA | 392 | 2 914 | 5 640 | 7 814 | 7 772 | 7 805 | 7 783 | 40 120 | |
| Tas. | 81 | 532 | 974 | 1 311 | 1 547 | 1 564 | 1 480 | 7 489 | |
| NT | 25 | 77 | 282 | 369 | 279 | 215 | 123 | 1 370 | |
| Total | 18 737 | 19 169 | 38 500 | 52 391 | 53 523 | 57 672 | 63 081 | 303 073 | |
| Females | | | | | | | | | |
| ACT | 130 | 749 | 1 451 | 1 248 | 1 103 | 949 | 683 | 6 313 | |
| NSW | 2 005 | 7 201 | 15 201 | 19 160 | 19 646 | 21 901 | 22 209 | 107 323 | |
| Vic. | 1 627 | 9 665 | 19 076 | 19 658 | 17 418 | 15 876 | 13 940 | 97 260 | |
| Qld | 8 810 | 6 631 | 13 321 | 15 474 | 14 805 | 14 419 | 12 238 | 85 698 | |
| SA | 6 629 | 3 271 | 4 950 | 5 992 | 6 244 | 7 096 | 7 419 | 41 601 | |
| WA | 591 | 5 837 | 10 274 | 11 387 | 10 647 | 9 624 | 8 328 | 56 688 | |
| Tas. | 140 | 1 057 | 1 827 | 2 108 | 2 161 | 1 958 | 1 553 | 10 804 | |
| NT | 41 | 226 | 529 | 475 | 344 | 214 | 117 | 1 946 | |
| Total | 19 973 | 34 637 | 66 629 | 75 502 | 72 368 | 72 037 | 66 487 | 407 633 | |
| |
| (a) Excludes Cocos Island, Norfolk Island and Christmas Island. |
| Source: Medicare Australia, Australian Organ Donor Register - Consent Registrations & 16-17 Intent Registrations as at 31 December 2005. |
ILLICIT DRUG, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO USE
In the ACT during 2003-04, there was a total of 413 arrests for either consuming or providing illicit drugs. The largest proportion of these (65%, or 267 arrests) were for Cannabis. This was followed by Amphetamine-type stimulants (24% or 99), and Heroin and other opioids (9% or 39). Males accounted for 82% (340) of the total arrests related to illicit drugs in the ACT in 2003-04.
7.9 ILLICIT DRUG USE ARRESTS, ACT - 2003-04 |
| |
| Consumer | Provider | Total | |
| Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | Total | |
| |
| All drugs | 262 | 61 | 323 | 77 | 12 | 89 | 340 | 73 | 413 | |
| Cannabis | 177 | 40 | 217 | 42 | 8 | 50 | 219 | 48 | 267 | |
| Heroin and other opioids | 18 | 5 | 23 | 15 | - | 15 | 34 | 5 | 39 | |
| Amphetamine-type stimulants | 60 | 16 | 76 | 19 | 4 | 23 | 79 | 20 | 99 | |
| Cocaine | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Hallucinogens | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Steroids | 4 | - | 4 | - | - | - | 4 | - | 4 | |
| Other and unknown drugs | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 2 | |
| |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| Source: Australian Crime Commision, Illicit Drug Data Report, 2004-05. |
Closed treatments are defined as a period of contact between a client and a treatment agency, with defined dates of commencement and cessation.
During 2003-04, eight government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies supplied data for the ACT. During this period, these service providers registered a total of 1,317 clients for closed treatments. The number of closed treatments was highest for clients aged 20-29 years ( 516 treatments). The most common principal drugs that clients were treated for were Cannabis (30%), Alcohol (22%) and Heroin (20%).
7.10 CLOSED TREATMENT(a), Principle drug of concern by age group - ACT and Australia - 2003-04 |
| |
| | ACT | | | |
| | 10-19 years | 20-29 years | 30-39 years | 40-49 years | 50-59 years | 60 years and over | Total(b) | Australia | |
| | | | | | | | | % | no. | |
| |
| Principal drug (%) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alcohol | 17 | 18.6 | 25.7 | 33.8 | 57.7 | - | 22.4 | 37.5 | 48 500 | |
| Amphetamines | 14.4 | 20.9 | 16.5 | 16.2 | 3.8 | 40.0 | 17.5 | 11.0 | 14 208 | |
| Benzodiazepines | 2.2 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 5.1 | 11.5 | 20.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 2 711 | |
| Cannabis | 52.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 18.4 | - | 20.0 | 29.5 | 22.0 | 28 427 | |
| Cocaine | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | - | - | 0.8 | 0.2 | 272 | |
| Ecstasy | - | 0.8 | - | 3.7 | 3.8 | - | 0.8 | 0.4 | 508 | |
| Heroin | 10.1 | 25.4 | 24.5 | 13.2 | 19.2 | 20.0 | 20.2 | 18.0 | 23 326 | |
| Methadone | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 4.4 | - | - | 2.7 | 1.9 | 2 404 | |
| Nicotine | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | - | - | - | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2 001 | |
| Other(c) | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 3.8 | - | 2.4 | 4.9 | 6 342 | |
| Total (%)(d) | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | - | |
| Total (no.)(d) | 278 | 516 | 339 | 136 | 26 | 5 | 1 317 | - | 129 331 | |
| |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) Excludes treatment episodes for clients seeking treatment for the drug use of others. |
| (b) Includes not stated for age. |
| (c) Includes balance of principal drugs of concern coded according to Australian Standard Classification of Drugs of Concern. |
| (d) Includes not stated for principal drug of concern. |
| Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in the Australian Capital Territory: Report on the National Minimum Data Set, 2003-04. |
SERIOUS INJURIES
During 2004-05, emergency departments in the ACT treated 93,710 people, a 3% decrease from 2003-04, when 96,653 people were treated. Over the same period, there was a 42% decrease in the demand for Non-urgent treatment, and a 3% decrease in the demand for Resuscitation treatment in the emergency departments. The demand for Emergency treatment rose by 3%, and the demand for Semi-urgent treatment rose by 9%.
7.11 PUBLIC HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION, ACT |
| |
| Resuscitate(a) | Emergency(b) | Urgent(c) | Semi-urgent(d) | Non-urgent(e) | Total | |
| |
| 1999-2000 | 779 | 2 998 | 17 770 | 34 943 | 27 868 | 84 358 | |
| 2000-01 | 812 | 3 025 | 19 181 | 36 550 | 33 169 | 92 737 | |
| 2001-02 | 1 000 | 3 638 | 18 918 | 35 055 | 36 514 | 95 126 | |
| 2002-03 | 1 021 | 3 831 | 19 709 | 35 261 | 36 326 | 96 148 | |
| 2003-04 | 1 073 | 6 802 | 22 207 | 39 573 | 26 998 | 96 653 | |
| 2004-05 | 1 045 | 6 976 | 26 599 | 43 316 | 15 774 | 93 710 | |
| |
| (a) Resuscitation - treatment required immediately. |
| (b) Emergency - treatment is required within 10 minutes. |
| (c) Urgent - treatment required within 30 minutes. |
| (d) Semi-urgent - treatment is required within one hour. |
| (e) Non-urgent - treatment is required within 120 minutes. |
| Source: ACT Health, Annual Report, 2004-2005. |
SUICIDE
Suicide continues to be a major public health issue. Although death by suicide is a relatively uncommon event (nationally, 1.6% of all deaths registered in 2004 were attributed to suicide), the human and economic costs are substantial. Apart from the loss of human life, the health care costs associated with attempted suicide, and also the circumstances surrounding the death, can be very difficult for family and friends to deal with.
In 2004, there were 26 suicides registered in the ACT, a decrease of 9 suicides (26%) from 2003. The national suicide figure in 2004 was 2,098 people, a decrease of 5% from 2003 (2,213). Fluctuations in suicide numbers from year to year, especially in smaller jurisdictions such as the ACT, are to be expected because of the small numbers involved.
7.12 SUICIDES, By sex and state/territory(a) - 1999-2004 |
| |
| | ACT | NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | Tas. | NT | Aust. | |
| | no. | no. | no. | no. | no. | no. | no. | no. | no. | |
| |
| Males | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1999 | 35 | 689 | 440 | 396 | 155 | 192 | 68 | 27 | 2 002 | |
| 2000 | 25 | 588 | 382 | 421 | 161 | 206 | 40 | 37 | 1 860 | |
| 2001 | 34 | 613 | 412 | 406 | 168 | 212 | 51 | 39 | 1 935 | |
| 2002 | 22 | 552 | 386 | 431 | 140 | 188 | 54 | 44 | 1 817 | |
| 2003 | np | 510 | 409 | 371 | 154 | 167 | 54 | np | 1 736 | |
| 2004 | 19 | 464 | 396 | 371 | 141 | 156 | 70 | 44 | 1 661 | |
| Female | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1999 | 10 | 180 | 112 | 84 | 45 | 44 | 10 | 5 | 490 | |
| 2000 | 4 | 142 | 129 | 120 | 38 | 55 | 10 | 5 | 503 | |
| 2001 | 12 | 172 | 129 | 93 | 39 | 57 | 13 | 4 | 519 | |
| 2002 | 4 | 140 | 142 | 106 | 30 | 54 | 16 | 11 | 503 | |
| 2003 | np | 130 | 131 | 95 | 39 | 59 | 15 | np | 477 | |
| 2004 | 7 | 123 | 125 | 82 | 37 | 38 | 18 | 7 | 437 | |
| Persons | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1999 | 45 | 869 | 552 | 480 | 200 | 236 | 78 | 32 | 2 492 | |
| 2000 | 29 | 730 | 511 | 541 | 199 | 261 | 50 | 42 | 2 363 | |
| 2001 | 46 | 785 | 541 | 499 | 207 | 269 | 64 | 43 | 2 454 | |
| 2002 | 26 | 692 | 528 | 537 | 170 | 242 | 70 | 55 | 2 320 | |
| 2003 | 35 | 640 | 540 | 466 | 193 | 226 | 69 | 44 | 2 213 | |
| 2004 | 26 | 587 | 521 | 453 | 178 | 194 | 88 | 51 | 2 098 | |
| |
| np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated |
| (a) State or territory of usual residence. |
| Source: Suicides, 1994 to 2004 (cat. no. 3309.0). |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABS
Suicides, 1994-2004, cat. no. 3309.0.
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NON-ABS
ACT Health, Annual Report, 2004-2005, last viewed 10 August 2006, <http://www.health.act.gov.au/>.
ACT Health, Clinical Operations, Health Performance Unit, Data available on request.
Australian Crime Commission, Illicit Drug Data Report, 2004-05, <http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/>.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in the Australian Capital Territory, 2003-04, Report on the National Minimum Data Set, last viewed 10 August 2006, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/>.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2003-04, AIHW cat. no. HSE37, last viewed 11 May 2006, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10130>.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2002-03, AIHW cat. no. HSE32, last viewed 11 May 2006, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10015>.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2001-02, AIHW cat. no. HSE25, last viewed 11 May 2006, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/8881>.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2000-01, AIHW cat. no. HSE20, last viewed 11 May 2006, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/7657>.
Department of Health and Ageing, Medicare Statistics, December Quarter 2005, last viewed 11 May 2006. <http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/>.
Medicare Australia, Australian Organ Donor Register, Consent Registrations & 16-17 Intent Registrations as at 31 December 2005, last viewed 11 May 2006, <http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/>.
Private Health Insurance Administration Council, Annual Coverage Survey, last viewed 10 August 2006, <http://www.phiac.gov.au/statistics/survey/index.htm>.
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