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Voice of reason

• Dispelling the myths
• The facts
• Frequently asked questions
• What Australians told us about our health system

The facts

• 43% (561) of hospitals operating in Australia are private hospitals.ⁱ
• 40% of Australian patients are treated in a private hospital.ⁱⁱ
• In 2008-09, private hospitals admitted 3.26 million patients.ⁱⁱⁱ
• Private hospitals perform the majority of elective surgery in Australia – 64%.^iv
• Private hospitals provide 653 of the total 660 different procedures and treatments undertaken in Australian hospitals.^v

Private hospitals undertake the majority of the following complex procedures and treatments, which are traditionally associated with public hospitals

Sameday alcohol use, disorder and dependence services	93%
Obesity procedures	84%
Sleep apnoea	83%
Knee procedures	74%
Mental health treatment, sameday	74%
Sinus, mastoid and complex middle ear procedures	71%
Major eye procedures	79%
Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and neuropathy	66%
Other major joint replacement and limb reattachment	65%
Hip replacements	63%
Chemotherapy	60%
Malignant breast disorders	65%
Other shoulder procedures	83%
Procedures on breast conditions	67%
(Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-2009.)

• In 2008-09, private hospitals treated half a million accident and emergency cases.^vi
• Private hospitals treat over 1.2 million patients aged 65+ each year. This age group represented 37.2% of all private hospital admissions in 2008-09. ^vii
• In 2008-09 private hospitals treated 203,840 DVA patients, (62.2% of all DVA-funded patients). ^viii

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-09.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-09.
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-09.
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-09.
5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2007-08.
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Private Hospitals Establishments Collection 2008-09.
7. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-09.
8. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2008-09.