DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

In 2009-10, growth in weighted separations occurred across the entire hospital network.complexity of cases presenting to Territory hospitals.Table 17: Growth in Inpatient Weighted SeparationsRoyal DarwinHospitalAlice SpringsHospitalKatherineHospitalTennant CreekHospitalGove DistrictHospital2006-07 37 195 18 714 3 974 2 026 1 979 63 8882007-08 38 135 20 014 3 941 1 812 1 732 65 6332008-09 37 898 20 767 4 323 1 923 1 865 66 7762009-10 38 680 21 798 4 299 2 074 2 041 68 892Growth2008-09 to 2009-10 2.1% 5.0% -0.6% 7.9% 9.4% 3.2%TotalOver this period, the two larger hospitals accounted for the majority of growth observedacross the network, although concentrated at Alice Springs Hospital. Activity at Alice SpringsHospital has increased consistent with population growth, ever improving access to hospitalsfrom remote communities and enhanced efforts through targeted initiatives and programs.In 2009 10 major contributors to growth in Alice Springs included patients admitted fordiseases and disorders of the circulatory system and nervous system. Additionally, newborn care and pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium contributed heavily to growth ininpatient weighted separations over this period.70%of Hospitalpatients areAboriginal by the large volume of same-day cases, which generally have relatively lower complexity.The majority of same day cases are typically patients admitted for renal dialysis and accountfor about 70% of all same day treatments.Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal ActivityThe Aboriginal population makes up about 30% of the Territory’s total population, a far largerproportion than any other jurisdiction. In 2009-10, across the hospital network, Aboriginalpeople accounted for nearly 70% of all hospital acute separations.consistent over recent years. In 2009-10, all Territory public hospitals, with the exceptionof Royal Darwin Hospital, had a greater number of Aboriginal acuity adjusted separationsthe Aboriginal population and higher number of Aboriginal people in the catchment areas ofthe rural and remote hospitals, compared with the higher number of non-Aboriginal peoplein the urban population of the greater Darwin area.112Department Health and Families