Summary

This report presents information about non-admitted patient care provided to public patients in public hospital outpatient clinics between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018.

In 2017–18, 38.9 million non-admitted patient care service events were reported by 601 public hospitals and 29 other services.

Services provided

In 2017–18:

  • 46% of service events (17.8 million) were in allied health and/or clinical nurse specialist intervention clinics—including 2.3 million service events for Midwifery and maternity and 2.2 million for Primary health care clinics.
  • 31% (12.2 million) were in medical consultation clinics—including 1.4 million service events for General practice and primary care and 1.1 million for Orthopaedics.
  • 15% (5.8 million) were for diagnostic services—including 3.2 million service events for Pathology (microbiology, haematology, biochemistry) and 1.7 million for General imaging.
  • 8% (3.1 million) were in procedural clinics—including 1.1 million service events for Dental clinics.

Users of services

In 2017–18, it is estimated that:

  • over half (55%) of service events were for females, which represented 70% of events for people aged 15–44 (the age range that includes the most services for Obstetrics and Midwifery and maternity)
  • 33% of service events were for people aged 65 and over
  • 5% of service events were for Indigenous Australians.

Funding of services

In 2017–18, 86% of non-admitted patient service events were funded by 'Other sources' (including the jurisdiction’s health service budget) and 13% were funded by the Medicare Benefits Scheme. The remainder were funded through compensation schemes and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.