The latest release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data tables on Potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) in Australia by small geographic areas endorses the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) evidence showing rural communities are hospitalised at higher rates for preventable illness compared to people living in Major Cities.
According to the AIHW, rates of PPH were consistently higher for people living in Remote and Very Remote areas than those living in other areas. People living in Remote and Very Remote areas had around twice the rate of PPH than people living in Major Cities.
"When you live hundreds of kilometres from the nearest GP or primary care facility, you often have few options. These figures show how distance, combined with workforce shortages and limited flexibility of services, leads to unnecessary hospitalisations," said NRHA Chief Executive Susi Tegen.
"It's a clear signal that the health system is failing to meet the needs of rural Australians. The re-elected Federal government now has the opportunity to step up and implement the reforms and recommendations provided by the sector," she added. "We can no longer ignore this discrepancy in access."
The figures endorse the NRHA's Evidence base for additional investment in rural health in Australia report, showing residents in Remote and Very Remote communities were hospitalised for potentially avoidable conditions at approximately twice the rate of those in Major Cities.
AIHW data shows that this gap has remained consistent over recent years, with the rate ranging from 2.0 times higher in 2017-2018 to 2.2 times higher in 2021-22.
AIHW also shows people living in regional Primary Health Network areas have experienced persistently higher rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations compared to their metropolitan counterparts since 2017-2018. This is particularly so in the Northern Territory (5,600 hospitalisations per 100,000 population) and Western Queensland (5,300 hospitalisations per 100,000 population).
The NRHA's evidence base for additional rural health investment echoes these findings. It recognises that where primary care access is low, more patients access emergency departments. The report also highlights that MBS utilisation, for example from GP consults, drops as areas become more remote, with an associated rise in emergency department attendances. In these regions, there are often no clinicians of any kind.
"We now have years of evidence showing that lower access to Medicare-funded services and higher emergency presentations are closely linked. The AIHW figures back this up — now we need the funding to follow from the re-elected government. We know the Minister for Health, Ageing and Disability understands the paradox of remote Australia's great economic contribution, and yet worse health outcomes. Over the years, the NRHA has provided flexible solutions to Australian governments through numerous consultations.
Now's the time to implement those recommendations with better investment in rural primary care and allied health services," said Ms Tegen.
About us:
The National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance) comprises 54 national organisations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the over 7 million people in rural and remote Australia. Our diverse membership includes representation from health professional organisations, health service providers, health educators, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and students.
