Health services

Difficulties getting health care

In 2008, less than 2 in 10 adults (17.8 per cent) experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it. A significantly higher proportion of adults aged 35-44 years (25.2 per cent) and 45-54 years (23.3 per cent), and a significantly lower proportion of adults aged 16-24 years (8.5 per cent) and 65 years and over (11.5 per cent), experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it, compared with the overall adult population. A significantly lower proportion of males (13.9 per cent) than females (21.6 per cent) experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it. A significantly lower proportion of adults in the first or least disadvantaged quintile (10.9 per cent), and a significantly higher proportion of adults in the fourth quintile (24.9 per cent), experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it, compared with the overall adult population. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the rural health areas (27.2 per cent) than urban health areas (13.7 per cent) experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the Hunter & New England (25.1 per cent), North Coast (26.7 per cent), Greater Southern (30.8 per cent), and Greater Western (28.6 per cent) Area Health Services, and a significantly lower proportion of adults in the Sydney South West (13.6 per cent), South Eastern Sydney & Illawarra (13.3 per cent), Sydney West (13.8 per cent), and Northern Sydney & Central Coast (14.2 per cent) Area Health Services, experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it, compared with the overall adult population.

Since 1997, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of adults who experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it (9.9 per cent to 17.8 per cent). The increase has been significant in males and females, all age groups, all socioeconomic quintiles, and urban and rural health areas.

Since 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who experienced difficulties getting health care when needing it; however, there has been a significant increase in adults aged 55-64 years and females.

Emergency department care rating

In 2008, of the adults who presented to an emergency department in the last 12 months, 77.8 per cent rated the care they received positively (as excellent, very good, or good). A significantly higher proportion of adults aged 65 years and over (90.0 per cent) rated the care they received positively, compared with the overall adult population. There was no significant difference between males and females, or among quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the rural health areas (81.8 per cent) than urban health areas (75.2 per cent) rated the care they received positively. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the Greater Southern Area Health Service (86.4 per cent) rated the care they received positively, compared with the overall adult population who presented to an emergency department in the last 12 months.

Since 1997, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who rated the emergency department care they received positively; however, there has been a significant decrease in adults aged 55-64 years.

Since 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who rated the emergency department care they received positively; however, there has been a significant decrease in adults aged 55-64 years.

Hospital care rating

In 2008, of the adults admitted to a hospital in the last 12 months, 88.4 per cent rated the care they received positively (as excellent, very good, or good). A significantly higher proportion of adults aged 65 years and over (94.1 per cent) rated the care they received positively, compared with the overall adult population. A significantly higher proportion of males (91.7 per cent) than females (86.3 per cent) rated the care they received positively. There was no significant difference between rural and urban health areas. There was no significant difference among quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage, or among health areas, compared with the overall adult population admitted to hospital in the last 12 months.

Since 1997, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who rated the hospital care they received positively.

Since 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who rated the hospital care they received positively.

Public dental care rating

In 2008, of the adults who attended a public dental service in the last 12 months, 86.8 per cent rated the care they received positively (as excellent, very good, or good). A significantly higher proportion of adults aged 16-24 years (98.0 per cent) rated the care they received positively, compared with the overall adult population. There was no significant difference between males and females, or between rural and urban health areas. There was no significant difference among quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage, or among health areas, compared with the overall adult population who attended a public dental service in the last 12 months.

Since 2002, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who rated the public dental service care they received positively; however, there has been a significant decrease in adults aged 55-64 years.

Since 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults who rated the public dental service care they received positively.

Graphs

Source:	New South Wales Population Health Survey 2008 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
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Produced by:	Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on:	1 March 2009