12 April 2010

Private Hospitals Provide Solution for Public Hospitals Surgery Waiting Times

The Australian Private Hospitals Association today welcomed the Federal Government’s latest health reform announcements which recognise the vital role played by private hospitals in delivering health services in Australia.

“The Government has acknowledged what last year’s Productivity Commission report into public and private hospitals clearly showed; that patient costs are lower in a private hospital and they receive safer treatment,” said Michael Roff, Chief Executive Officer of APHA. “Private hospitals in Australia perform 60% of all surgery, everything from cardiac surgery to hip and knee replacements and do it cheaper and with lower infection rates”.

Today’s announcements also acknowledge the role of private hospitals in training Australia’s future health workforce.  Since 2005, private hospitals have spent more than $250 million on training doctors, nurses and allied health workers.  The Government has recognised that more clinical training needs to take place in the private sector and we look forward to detailed discussions about how this will be funded.

“We also welcome the opportunity to work with the Government on the Transparent Hospital Performance Reports and hope that common sense prevails when deciding what data should be collected. Private Hospitals already collect and report more data than their public hospital counterparts and we think there should be a rationalisation of data collection in Australia. Otherwise we end up with hospitals buried under paperwork.”

-ENDS-

For more information contact:

Lisa Ramshaw, APHA Public Affairs Manager on 0413 971 999