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Private Hospitals, Australia

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Statistics about the operation of private acute and psychiatric hospitals, and free-standing day hospital facilities in Australia

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Reference period
2016-17 financial year

Private hospitals

This publication presents statistics about the characteristics and activities of the private hospital component of the Australian hospital sector, collected through the ABS' annual Private Health Establishments Collection (PHEC). This sector consists of private acute and psychiatric hospitals, and free-standing day hospital facilities.

Private acute and psychiatric hospitals must be licensed by the relevant state or territory health authority. Private acute hospitals provide medical, surgical or obstetrical services for admitted patients, round-the-clock comprehensive qualified nursing services and other necessary professional services. Most of the patients have acute conditions or temporary ailments. Psychiatric hospitals cater primarily for admitted patients with psychiatric, mental or behavioural disorders.

Free-standing day hospitals provide investigation and treatment for acute conditions on a day-only basis and are approved by the Commonwealth for the purposes of health insurance benefits and include those registered with their respective state health authority.

Information in this release is presented in a number of separate sections covering all private hospitals, private acute and psychiatric hospitals and free-standing day hospitals. The data cover hospital facilities, activities, staffing and finances:

1. Section one - All private hospitals - summary

  • Table 1.1: Private Hospitals, Australia - Selected years
  • Table 1.2: Private Hospitals, States and Territories, Australia - Selected years
  • Table 1.3: Private Hospitals by Type, Australia - Selected years
  • Graph 1: Private Hospitals, Net Operating Margin 2012-13 to 2016-17


2. Section two - Private acute and psychiatric hospitals - summary

  • Table 2.1: Private Acute and Psychiatric Hospitals, Australia - Selected years
  • Graph 1: Acute and Psychiatric Hospitals, Real Income and Expenditure 2012-13 to 2016-17


3. Section three - Private free-standing day hospitals - summary

  • Table 3.1: Private Free-standing Day Hospitals, Australia - Selected years
  • Graph 1: Private Free-standing Day Hospital Facilities, Real Income and Expenditure 2012-13 to 2016-17


Further detailed information is provided in datacubes:

  • Datacube 1, Private Hospitals - Summary Tables contains eight summary tables on private hospitals, including accreditation information, patient characteristics, hospital characteristics and activities, staffing and financial data.
  • Datacube 2, Private Acute and Psychiatric Hospitals - Summary Tables contains 17 tables and provides data including patient characteristics, hospital characteristics activities and facilities, staffing and finances.
  • Datacube 3, Private Day Hospital Facilities - Summary Tables has nine tables with data on hospital type, patient characteristics, hospital characteristics activities and facilities, staffing and finances.
  • Datacube 4, Private Acute and Psychiatric Hospitals - Detailed Tables contains 25 tables and provides data including patient characteristics, hospital characteristics activities and facilities, staffing and financial data.
  • Datacube 5, Private Day Hospital Facilities - Detailed Tables has 15 tables with including data on hospital type, patient characteristics, hospital characteristics activities and facilities, staffing and financial data.
  • Datacube 6, 2015-16 Private Hospitals - Revised contains four tables from the 2015-16 publication with revisions to income for Private Day Hospital Facilities. 
     

Further information and acknowledgements

There are relatively few psychiatric hospitals and some of these are owned by the same parent company. To maintain the confidentiality of data, psychiatric hospitals are combined with acute hospitals in most tables in this publication. Any differences between the data presented in this publication and the data shown in other reports on private hospital activity are due to differences in scope and coverage, relative completeness of the data sources and differing error resolution procedures.

The success of the PHEC is dependent on the very high level of cooperation received from private hospitals operating in Australia. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated; without it, the range of statistics published by the ABS would not be possible. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

The PHEC was not conducted for the 2007-08 reference period due to ABS budgetary constraints. This represented a break in the time series for the collection.

All private hospitals - summary

Table 1.1: Private hospitals, Australia - selected years

 2006-072011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Hospitals (no.)557592601612624630657
Beds/chairs (no.) (a)26,67829,00429,82730,92031,77433,07434,339
Separations ('000)3,0513,8994,1784,3444,5654,7064,889
Patient days ('000)7,6698,9999,3859,95710,42310,69410,787
Full-time equivalent staff (b)49,10357,49560,38762,41364,42966,80069,299
Income ('000) (c)7,539,41411,227,90811,802,64912,731,13013,894,73214,684,738r15,478,787
Expenditure ('000) (d)6,966,69610,043,21810,629,66611,350,96112,358,88313,138,71013,845,706
Gross capital expenditure ('000) (e)474,944492,198712,879765,336908,0661,185,799856,502

a. Available beds/chairs/trolleys (average for the year).
b. Staff represented are typical full-time equivalent numbers for the year. Full time equivalent represents the sum of full time staff and the full time equivalent of part time staff. See Glossary for further information.
c. Income includes income from patients, recoveries and other income such as investment income and income from charities, bequests, meals and accommodation but excludes income from payments from state and territory governments. See Glossary for further information. Note that income for 2015-16 has been revised. Additional tables reflecting this update are available in the 2015-16 private hospitals - revised data cube.
d. Expenditure refers to expenditure on goods and services, which does not result in the creation or acquisition of fixed assets (new or second hand). See Glossary for further information.
e. Gross capital expenditure refers to expenditure in a period on the acquisition or enhancement of an asset (including financial assets). See Glossary for further information.
 

Table 1.2: Private hospitals, states and territories - selected years

 NSWVic.QldSAWATas., NT & ACT(b)Australia
 2015-16
Hospitals (no.)205169109566229630
Beds/chairs (no.) (b)9,1108,6297,384npnpnp33,074
Separations ('000)1,3221,2011,034npnpnp4,706
Patient days ('000)2,9802,8492,439np1,352np10,694
Full-time equivalent staff (no.) (c)18,03018,46314,3894,502npnp66,800
Income ('000) (d)4,096,913r3,621,9943,267,502936,339npnp14,684,738r
Expenditure ('000) (e)3,669,8203,251,1932,944,655np1,919,016np13,138,710
Gross capital expenditure ('000) (f)265,594429,620291,299npnpnp1,185,799
 2016-17
Hospitals (no.)210174118566435657
Beds/chairs (no.) ((b)9,4819,1797,6432,2104,4551,37134,339
Separations ('000)1,3751,2361,1023446292034,889
Patient days ('000)3,0082,8902,5166941,26341610,787
Full-time equivalent staff (no.) (c)18,41419,28315,2204,5669,2372,57869,299
Income ('000) (d)4,239,4163,822,3613,519,176np2,306,661np15,478,787
Expenditure ('000) (e)3,775,3883,497,0533,136,058864,8342,026,939545,43413,845,706
Gross capital expenditure ('000) (f)234,924259,733257,870np37,424np856,502

np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated.
a. Tasmania, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have been aggregated to protect the confidentiality of the small number of hospitals in the states/territories.
b. Available beds/chairs/trolleys (average for the year).
c. Staff employed represented are typical full time equivalent numbers for the year. Full time equivalent represents the sum of full time staff and full time equivalent of part time staff. See Glossary for further information.
d. Income includes income from patients, recoveries, and other income such as investment income and income from charities, bequests, meals and accommodation but excludes income from state and territory governments. See Glossary for further information. Note that income for 2015-16 has been revised. Additional tables reflecting this update are available in the 2015-16 private hospitals - revised data cube.
e. Expenditure refers to expenditure on goods and services, which does not result in the creation or acquisition of fixed assets (new or second hand). See Glossary for further information.
f. Gross capital expenditure refers to expenditure in a period on the acquisition or enhancement of an asset (including financial assets). See Glossary for further information.
 

Table 1.3: Private hospitals by type, Australia - selected years

 Acute and psychiatric hospitalsFree-standing day hospital facilitiesAll private hospitals
 2015-16
Hospitals (no.)289341630
Beds/chairs (no.) (a)29,9223,15233,074
Separations ('000)3,5341,1724,706
Patient days ('000)9,5231,17210,694
Full-time equivalent staff (b)62,1514,65066,800
Income ('000) (c)13,536,6621,148,076r14,684,738r
Expenditure ('000)(d)12,206,220932,49013,138,710
Gross capital expenditure ('000) (e)1,122,90762,8921,185,799
 2016-17
Hospitals (no.)300357657
Beds/chairs (no.) (a)31,0293,31034,339
Separations ('000)3,6691,2204,889
Patient days ('000)9,5681,22010,787
Full-time equivalent staff (b)64,5484,75169,299
Income ('000) (c)14,265,2481,213,53915,478,787
Expenditure ('000) (d)12,877,771967,93513,845,706
Gross capital expenditure ('000) (e)802,42954,073856,502

a. Available beds/chairs/trolleys (average for the year).
b. Staff employed represented are typical full time equivalent numbers for the year. Full time equivalent represents the sum of full time staff and full time equivalent of part time staff. See Glossary for further information.
c. Income includes income from patients, recoveries, and other income such as investment income and income from charities, bequests, meals and accommodation but excludes income from state and territory governments. See Glossary for further information. Note that income for 2015-16 has been revised. Additional tables reflecting this update are available in the 2015-16 private hospitals - revised data cube.
d. Expenditure refers to expenditure on goods and services, which does not result in the creation or acquisition of fixed assets (new or second hand). See Glossary for further information.
e. Gross capital expenditure refers to expenditure in a period on the acquisition or enhancement of an asset (including financial assets). See Glossary for further information.
 

Operating margin

Private acute and psychiatric hospitals - summary

Table 2.1: Private acute and psychiatric hospitals, Australia - selected years

 2006-072011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Hospitals (no.)289281282286282289300
Beds/Chairs (no.)(a)24,42726,03126,88927,94328,67929,92231,029
Separations ('000)2,4202,9653,0923,2203,4053,5343,669
Patient days ('000)       
 Same-day patient (b)1,3231,7491,8411,9392,0812,1692,273
 Overnight-stay patient5,7146,3166,4586,8947,1827,3547,294
 Total7,0378,0668,2998,8339,2639,5239,568
Operating theatres9791,0511,0541,0971,1511,2401,325
Co-located with a public hospital (no.)na414347474751
Full-time equivalent staff (no.)(c)46,71853,85056,31758,17059,92362,15164,548
Income (d)
Total ($'000)7,082,47710,352,33010,856,06511,740,22612,768,60613,536,66214,265,248
Patient income (%)(e)96.295.595.795.69595.295.1
Recurrent expenditure (f)       
 Total ($'000)6,581,7119,339,2179,859,84410,535,79711,473,79312,206,22012,877,771
 Wages and salaries, including on-costs, as a proportion of total expenditure (%)51.748.649.249.249.949.449.3
Gross capital expenditure (g)       
 Total ($'000)439,718460,859663,558718,316834,2921,122,907802,429

na not available
a. Available beds/chairs/trolleys (average for the year).
b. Same day patients are counted as having a stay of one day.
c. Staff represented are typical full time equivalent numbers for the year. Full time equivalent represents the sum of full time staff and full time equivalent of part time staff. See Glossary for further information.
d. Income includes income from patients, recoveries, and other income such as investment income and income from charities, bequests, meals and accommodation but excludes income from state and territory governments. See Glossary for further information.
e. Includes income received by, and due to, the hospital in respect of patient liability for accommodation and other fees. See Glossary for further information
f. Expenditure refers to expenditure on goods and services, which does not result in the creation or acquisition of fixed assets (new or second hand). See Glossary for further information.
g. Gross capital expenditure refers to expenditure in a period on the acquisition or enhancement of an asset (including financial assets). See Glossary for further information.
 

Real income and expenditure

  1. Laspeyres input cost index was used to derive real income and expenditure. See Methodology page 25 for further information.

Private free-standing day hospitals - summary

Table 3.1: Private free-standing day hospitals, Australia - selected years

 2006-072011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Hospitals (no.)(a)       
 Specialist Endoscopy76nananananana
 Gastroentorologyna818480828686
 Ophthalmic surgery57656474797981
 Plastic and cosmetic surgery28323436323029
 Gynaecology, Fertility treatment and Family Planningna323231343338
 Other (b)107101105105115113123
 Total (c)268311319326342341357
Beds/Chairs (no.)(d)2,2512,9732,9382,9773,0953,1523,310
Separations ('000)6319341,0861,1241,1591,1721,220
Operating theatres (no.)( e)264321325351374377413
Procedure rooms (no)(e)2052602605496707731,003
Co-located with a public hospital (no.)na91010121112
Full-time equivalent staff (no.)(f)2,3853,6454,0704,2434,5054,6504,751
Income(g)
Total ($'000)456,937875,578946,584990,9041,126,1261,148,076r1,213,539
Patient income (%)96.395.79595.795.494.9r95.3
Recurrent expenditure (h)       
 Total ($'000)384,986704,001769,822815,164885,090932,490967,935
 Wages and salaries, including on-costs, as a proportion of total expenditure (%)40.241.341.441.943.143.543.0
Gross capital expenditure (i)       
 Total ($'000)35,22531,33949,32147,02073,77462,89254,073

na not available
a. See Methodology page 25 for further information on categories.
b. Including Dental Oral Maxillofacial surgery, Dialysis, Oncology, General surgery, sleep disorders clinic and other types of centre.
c. Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
d. Available beds/chairs/trolleys (average for the year).
e. Details are for the last week of the pay period ending on or before 30 June.
f. Staff represented are typical full time equivalent numbers for the year. Full time equivalent represents the sum of full time staff and full time equivalent of part time staff. See Glossary for further information.
g. Income includes income from patients, recoveries, and other income such as investment income and income from charities, bequests, meals and accommodation but excludes income from state and territory governments. See Glossary for further information. Note that income for 2015-16 has been revised. Additional tables reflecting this update are available in the 2015-16 private hospitals - revised data cube.
h. Expenditure refers to expenditure on goods and services, which does not result in the creation or acquisition of fixed assets (new or second hand). See Glossary for further information.
i. Gross capital expenditure refers to expenditure in a period on the acquisition or enhancement of an asset (including financial assets). See Glossary for further information.
 

Real income and expenditure

  1.  Laspeyres input cost index was used to derive real income and expenditure. See Explanatory note 25 for further information.
     

Inquiries

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.

Data downloads

Private hospitals - summary tables

Data files
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Private acute and psychiatric hospitals - summary tables

Data files
Download xls [895 KB]

Private day hospital facilities - summary tables

Data files
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Private acute and psychiatric hospitals - detailed tables

Data files
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Private day hospital facilities - detailed tables

Data files
Download xls [283.5 KB]

2015-16 Private hospitals - revised

Data files
Download xls [464 KB]

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 4390.0.
 

Methodology

Private Hospitals, Australia methodology, 2016-17 financial year