Hospitals

In 2001--2002, there were 1306 hospitals in Australia: 724 public acute hospitals, 22 public psychiatric hospitals, 246 private free-standing day hospital facilities and 314 other private hospitals.

This translated to 49,004 available beds in public acute hospitals and 2457 in public psychiatric hospitals. The private sector estimate was 1851 available beds in private free-standing day hospital facilities and 25,556 in other private hospitals.

Patients can access public hospitals through emergency departments, where they may present on their own initiative, via the ambulance services, or after referral from a doctor. Public hospital emergency and outpatient services are provided free of charge to eligible persons.

Patients admitted to a public hospital can choose to be treated as public or private patients. Public patients receive treatment from doctors and specialists nominated by the hospital, but are not charged for their care and treatment.

Patients treated in a private hospital---or as a private patient in a public hospital---can select their treating specialist, but charges then apply for all of the hospital’s services (such as accommodation and surgical supplies). Medicare subsidises the fees charged by doctors, and private health insurance funds contribute towards medical fees and the hospital costs for insured patients.

Emergency ambulance services are not free of charge for most Australians, but subscription schemes are offered by the ambulance authorities or through private health insurance.