Health services

Health service use and access

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years with private health insurance (35.1 per cent to 45.6 per cent). The significant increase was among males (35.3 per cent to 45.6 per cent) and females (34.9 per cent to 45.7 per cent), among persons in all except the fifth or most disadvantaged quintile, and among persons in the urban health areas (35.8 per cent to 47.6 per cent).

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who had difficulties getting health care when needing it (5.7 per cent to 9.9 per cent). The significant increase was among males (5.1 per cent to 9.1 per cent) and females (6.4 per cent to 10.6 per cent), among persons the third quintile of disadvantage (5.9 per cent to 13.6 per cent), and among persons in the rural health areas (8.2 per cent to 17.9 per cent).

Emergency department presentations

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant variation in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who presented to an emergency department on 1 or more occasions in the last 12 months.

Hospital admissions

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant variation in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who were admitted to hospital on 1 or more occasions in the last 12 months. However, there has been a significant increase among persons in the third quintile of disadvantage (10.1 per cent to 18.9 per cent) and among persons in the rural health areas (11.3 per cent to 19.4 per cent).

General practitioner visits

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant variation in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who visited a general practitioner in the last 2 weeks. However, there has been a significant decrease among males (20.5 per cent to 11.2 per cent), and among persons in the second quintile of disadvantage (25.1 per cent to 12.6 per cent).

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been a significant decrease in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who visited a general practitioner in the last 12 months (88.3 per cent to 71.3 per cent). The significant decrease was among males (84.8 per cent to 65.0 per cent) and females (91.9 per cent to 77.6 per cent), among persons in all quintiles of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban (88.8 per cent to 70.9 per cent) and rural (86.9 per cent to 72.3 per cent) health areas.

Public dental services

Between 2002 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who attended a public dental service in the last 12 months (8.8 per cent to 12.7 per cent). The significant increase was among males (6.8 per cent to 13.5 per cent), among persons the fifth or most disadvantaged quintile (5.2 per cent to 16.1 per cent), and among persons in the rural health areas (9.6 per cent to 16.1 per cent).

Community health centres

Between 2002 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 16-24 years who attended a community health centre in the last 12 months (8.9 per cent to 13.0 per cent). The significant increase was among persons in the third quintile (6.9 per cent to 16.1 per cent) and fifth or most disadvantaged quintile (5.7 per cent to 16.4 per cent), and among persons in the rural health areas (10.5 per cent 16.6 per cent).

Graphs

Source:	New South Wales Population Health Survey 2007 (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 June 2008