Dispelling the myths
There are a lot of myths in the community about the breadth and depth of services provided by Australia’s private hospitals – we do so much more than people think. Here, we address and dispel the common myths and misunderstandings that many Australians believe about private hospitals.
Myth: Private Hospitals don’t offer everything the public system does. They pick and choose the simpler and more profitable services.
FACT: Private hospitals do undertake complex treatments. In fact, private hospitals provide 653 of the total 660 different procedures and treatments offered in Australian public hospitals, including complex surgery such as cardiac surgery, for example. Private hospitals undertake the majority of in-hospital chemotherapy, the bulk of hospital care for veterans, the majority of hip and knee surgery, psychiatric services, and rehabilitation, as well as gynaecology and obstetrics, eye surgery and much more.
The Productivity Commission concluded in 2009 that in fact the range and types of episodes of care treated by private hospitals was more complex than those treated in public hospitals.
Myth: Private Hospitals don’t have emergency wards.
FACT: There are many private hospitals across Australia that provide Accident and Emergency services to the community. In 2008-09, we treated 500,645 accident and emergency cases.
Myth: Private hospitals don’t train future doctors and nurses.
FACT: We train the current and next generation of Australian doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Since 2005, we have invested more than $250 million in training Australia’s health workforce and we believe this investment in our nation’s future medical workforce is vitally important.
Myth: Private hospitals are exclusive to a selected few.
FACT: Care in private hospitals is more affordable than many people realise. Last financial year, we treated 3.26 million Australians – some 40% of all patients admitted to hospital – including public patients, and veterans. Data in the Productivity Commission’s report (2009) shows that private hospitals carry out more elective surgery for patients from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds than public hospitals.
Myth: Elective surgery is the same as cosmetic surgery. Private hospitals only do ‘lumps and bumps’ and obstetrics.
FACT: Elective surgery isn’t cosmetic surgery: it is often complex and life saving procedures such as cardiac surgery and hip and knee replacements that get our patients up and enjoying life again quickly. Private hospitals perform 64% of elective surgery in Australia improving the quality of life for our patients.
Myth: Private hospitals are funded by private health insurance.
FACT: Private hospitals are owned and operated by not-for-profit religious and charitable institutions or commercial enterprises. The services we provide to patients are partially or fully subsidised from sources including private health insurance funds, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, third party insurers and patients themselves.
Public hospitals actually receive a significant amount from insurance funds – nearly $450 million in benefits in 2006-07, with New South Wales receiving more than 50% of the payments.
Myth: Private hospitals only think about profits and not about patients.
FACT: Australia’s private hospitals are diverse – some are operated by charities, some on a not-for-profit basis and others as commercial entities. But regardless of our structure, our patients are our absolute priority.
Myth: Private hospitals don’t have to meet the same safety and quality standards.
FACT: Private hospitals have to meet more safety and quality standards and protocols than public hospitals. We have a strong reason to maintain a high standard of safety and quality of services and we are proud of the standard of services we provide.
Data from the 2009 Productivity Commission shows that private hospitals perform highly against safety and quality measures and 150 private hospitals are participating in the Australian Government’s MyHospitals website which will compare the safety and quality of Australian hospitals.