Hospitals

Introduction

To monitor the quality of care received in hospitals, the New South Wales Population Health Survey asks respondents questions about admissions to hospitals and how they rate the care received at hospitals.

Results

Admitted to a hospital

In 2008, the New South Wales Population Health Survey estimated that 14.2 per cent of adults were admitted to hospital on 1 or more occasions in the last 12 months. A significantly lower proportion of males (11.1 per cent) than females (17.1 per cent) were admitted to hospital. Among males, a significantly lower proportion of those aged 35-44 years (6.9 per cent), and a significantly higher proportion of those aged 55-64 years (14.5 per cent), 65-74 years (20.6 per cent), and 75 years and over (26.9 per cent), were admitted to hospital, compared with the overall adult male population. Among females, a significantly lower proportion of those aged 45-54 years (10.7 per cent), and a significantly higher proportion of those aged 25-34 years (25.9 per cent) and 75 years and over (22.8 per cent), were admitted to hospital, compared with the overall adult female population.

There was no significant difference among quintiles of disadvantage.

A significantly higher proportion of adults in rural health areas (15.7 per cent) than urban health areas (13.5 per cent) were admitted to hospital on 1 or more occasions in the last 12 months. There was no significant difference among health areas.

Since 1997, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of adults admitted to hospital on 1 or more occasions in the last 12 months (13.0 per cent to 14.2 per cent). The increase has been significant in females, and in urban health areas.

However, since 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults admitted to hospital on 1 or more occasions in the last 12 months.

Rating of hospital care

Those who were admitted to hospital were asked to rate the care they received: 40.9 per cent rated their care as excellent, 30.8 per cent as very good, 16.7 per cent as good, 7.4 per cent as fair, and 4.3 per cent as poor. Responses of excellent, very good, and good were combined into a positive rating of care.

In 2008, among those adults admitted to hospital in the last 12 months, 88.4 per cent gave a positive rating to the care they received. A significantly higher proportion of males (91.7 per cent) than females (86.3 per cent) gave a positive rating to the care they received. Among males, there was no significant difference among age groups, compared with the overall adult male population. Among females, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 65-74 years (93.3 per cent) and 75 years and over (92.4 per cent), gave a positive rating to the care they received, compared with the overall adult female population.

There was no significant difference among quintiles of disadvantage, between rural and urban health areas, or among health areas.

Since 1997, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who gave a positive rating to their hospital care.

Since 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who gave a positive rating to their hospital care.

The main reason for rating care as fair or poor was poor attitude of clinical staff (29.5 per cent) followed by: poor quality accommodation (22.8 per cent), excessive waiting time for care (21.8 per cent), communication problems (19.0 per cent), not enough staff (17.9 per cent), inadequate medication or management (15.3 per cent), poor technical skill of clinical staff (14.4 per cent), poor or inadequate food (9.5 per cent), and hospital could not offer required care (7.4 per cent).

Graphs

Source:	New South Wales Population Health Survey 2008 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Print version:	Although this page can be printed directly from your web browser, a higher quality version is available as a PDF file that can be printed or viewed on screen.
Produced by:	Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on:	1 July 2009