Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association
-
This analysis of the use of acute hospitals by older people identifies the extent of long stays by elderly patients and the eventual outcomes of these stays in terms of separations to residential care or the community. The effect of casemix on length of stay and differences associated with location of hospital are also discussed. ⋯ These patients use some 9% of all acute bed days and, in most cases, these beds would otherwise be unoccupied. It is unlikely therefore that they are 'blocking' beds that could be used to relieve waiting lists.
-
Privatisation is once again back on the Australian political agenda. More significantly, privatisation has become an issue in the health care industry, following a proposal by the New South Wales government to privatise a public hospital in Port Macquarie. The main aims of this article are to discuss: the international move towards privatisation, the benefits of privatisation, the problems associated with privatisation in health care, and the potential health care services which could be privatised.