Archived - links may not work (5/4/2005)

Quarterly Bed Census

Since January 2000, the Department has conducted a regular survey of hospitals to provide a snapshot view of the number of beds and bed days occupied by patients who, having finished their original episode of care, are waiting to go to another form of care. The census thus provides important information about the number of patients waiting in State-funded hospitals for Commonwealth-funded aged care places, as well as providing other useful data about patient flows throughout the health care system.

The bed census initially surveyed only the major metropolitan hospitals. In January 2001, it was expanded to take in the sub-acute facilities attached to these, as well as some other acute faciliites. From September 2002, all public hospitals in Victoria, with the exception of a few specialist facilities, have participated in the census.

Data collected by the bed census is used in a variety of ways. It informs the work of the Hospital Demand Management Group , and other units within the Department of Human Services which deal with the interface between the health and aged care sectors. Information collected on patients waiting for residential care is reported to the public in the Hospital Services Report, and is relevant to negotiations with the Commonwealth about aged care service planning in Victoria.

Contact

This Web site is managed by the Hospital Demand Management Group of the Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Division, State Government Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia