Public patients waiting twice as long for elective surgery, hospitals data reveals

Report finds Australians using private hospitals less while admissions to public hospitals are rising

Eight per cent of public hospital admissions for surgery and 18% of emergency department admissions were funded by private health insurance in 2016-17.

An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, Admitted patient care 2016-17: Australian hospital statistics, also found that people were using private hospitals less while admissions to public hospitals were rising. Overnight private hospital stays fell by an average of 0.9% per capita, the report shows.