M AY 2 0 1 1
B u pa
H e a lt h wat c h
Poll
Introduction
The Bupa Healthwatch Poll (May 2011) looks at the Australian community’s healthcare
concerns and compares the findings against earlier Bupa Healthwatch findings.
“As evidenced by our latest Bupa Healthwatch Poll, health and healthcare are clearly
important issues for Australians. The findings are particularly revealing and important
at a time when these issues are high on our governments’ agendas and are being
discussed daily in the media.”
Dr Christine Bennett, Chief Medical Officer, Bupa
Findings
QUESTION
For each of these aspects of the current public healthcare system please say whether
it is something that you are very concerned about, fairly concerned about, not very
concerned about or not at all concerned about.
CONCERNS ABOUT CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 2011: TOTAL
Care for the elderly, shortage of hospital beds and waiting times in emergency departments are the
aspects of healthcare Australians are concerned about.
Care for the elderly
85
Shortage of available hospital beds
84
83
Waiting times in emergency departments
81
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
76
Shortage of nurses
72
Shortage of doctors
Direct costs you have to pay after you see the dentist
71
Waiting times to see a specialist
70
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
69
55
Direct costs you have to pay after you see the GP
52
Difficulty getting an appointment to see a GP
49
Quality of aftercare following an operation
40
Access to allied health professionals
0
20
40
60
80
100
%
Graph 1: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: All respondents 2011 n=1100
2
CONCERNS ABOUT CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 2011:
CAPITAL CITIES VS REGIONAL/RURAL
For many aspects of health service delivery there is little difference in the level of concern between
Australians living in capital cities versus those living in regional and rural Australia.
Care for the elderly
Shortage of available hospital beds
Waiting times in emergency departments
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
Shortage of nurses
70
Shortage of doctors
Capital City
86
83
84
83
84
80
82
81
76
76
Regional/rural
75
71
71
68
73
68
70
Direct costs you have to pay after you see the dentist
Waiting times to see a specialist
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
54
58
Direct costs you have to pay after you see the GP
Difficulty getting an appointment to see a GP
49
Quality of aftercare following an operation
48
50
38
Access to allied health professionals
0
20
40
57
43
60
80
100
%
Graph 2: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: Respondents 2011: in Capital Cities n=700, Regional/rural n=400
CONCERNS ABOUT CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: 2011 VS 2009
When comparing the results of this year’s Poll with Bupa’s 2009 Healthwatch Survey, it appears that
there has been a shift in concern away from lack of funding for healthcare by Government to aspects
of healthcare delivery.
2011
85
82
84
88
81
91
Care for the elderly
Shortage of available hospital beds
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
76
Shortage of nurses
72
Shortage of doctors
0
20
40
60
89
89
69
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
2009
88
80
100
%
Graph 3: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: All respondents: 2009 n=1201, 2011 n=1100
3
Concerns about current public healthcare system:
New South WALES 2011 VS 2009
Responses in this year’s Poll suggest that NSW residents appear more concerned about the public
healthcare system than other Australians, and there is particular concern about funding of healthcare
and shortage of hospital beds.
Base: Respondents in NSW n=330
Q. For each of these aspects of the current health system please say whether it is something that you are very
concerned about, fairly concerned about, not very concerned about or not at all concerned about? (Top 2 Box)
Care for the elderly
77
88
88
Shortage of available hospital beds
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
Shortage of nurses
Waiting times
to have a procedure
in hospital
Concerns
About
Current
Victoria
2009
87
90
86
92
76
Shortage of doctors
0
20
40
90
76
Healthcare System:
60
2011
85
89
80
100
%
Graph 4: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: Respondents in NSW 2009 n= 364, 2011 n= 330
Concerns about current public healthcare system:
VICTORIA 2011 VS 2009
Base: Respondents in Victoria n=290
In comparing the 2011 and 2009 results, Victorian’s concerns about the public healthcare system appear
to have reduced, other than in the area of care for the elderly, which is a consistent issue across the country.
Q. For each of these aspects of the current health system please say whether it is something that you are very
concerned about, fairly concerned about, not very concerned about or not at all concerned about? (Top 2 Box)
Care for the elderly
83
Shortage of available hospital beds
81
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
70
Shortage of nurses
0
20
40
60
91
84
69
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
2009
87
84
68
Shortage of doctors
2011
85
77
87
80
100
%
Graph 5: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: Respondents in VIC 2009 n= 253, 2011 n= 290
4
Concerns about current public healthcare system:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2011 VS 2009
In comparing the 2011 and 2009 results, there appears to have been a reduction in Western Australian’s
levels of concern for different aspects of the public healthcare system, particularly about waiting times and
the shortage of doctors. Concern for the care of the elderly, however, scored the highest of all the States
and Territories
Base: Respondents in Western Australia n=130
Q. For each of these aspects of the current health system please say whether it is something that you are very
concerned about, fairly concerned about, not very concerned about or not at all concerned about? (Top 2 Box)
Care for the elderly
81
83
Shortage of available hospital beds
80
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
76
Shortage of nurses
72
Shortage of doctors
Concerns About Current Healthcare System:
Queensland
0
20
40
2009
90
90
87
91
66
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
2011
88
89
60
80
100
%
Graph 6: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: Respondents in WA 2009 n= 107, 2011 n= 130
Concerns about current public healthcare system:
QUEENSLAND 2011 VS 2009
Base: Respondents in Queensland n=200
In comparing the 2011 and 2009 results, there appears to have been a reduction in Queenslanders’ levels of
concern for all aspects asked, other than care for the elderly.
Q. For each of these aspects of the current health system please say whether it is something that you are very
concerned about, fairly concerned about, not very concerned about or not at all concerned about? (Top 2 Box)
81
79
80
Care for the elderly
Shortage of available hospital beds
2011
2009
88
76
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
68
Shortage of nurses
89
71
Shortage of doctors
90
63
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
0
20
40
60
92
87
80
100
%
Graph 7: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: Respondents in QLD 2009 n= 221, 2011 n= 200
5
Concerns about current public healthcare system:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2011
Base: Respondents in South Australia n=130
Compared to other States, South Australians appear to have slightly lower levels of concern about many
areas of the public healthcare system, according to this year’s Poll.
Q. For each of these aspects of the current health system please say whether it is something that you are very
concerned about, fairly concerned about, not very concerned about or not at all concerned about? (Top 2 Box)
86
Care for the elderly
81
Shortage of available hospital beds
78
Lack of funding for healthcare by Government
72
Shortage of nurses
66
Shortage of doctors
59
Waiting times to have a procedure in hospital
0
20
40
60
80
100
%
Graph 8: Shows ‘fairly to very concerned’ responses
Base: Respondents in SA 2011 n=130
2009 data not available
ABOUT Bupa
Methodology
Bupa is Australia’s largest private health insurer,
caring for more than three million Australians through
its brands HBA, MBF and Mutual Community.
Bupa Healthwatch Poll May 2011
The Bupa Healthwatch Poll was conducted by
Galaxy Research on the weekend of 18-20 February,
2011 using CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone
Interviewing).
Bupa and its sister companies in the worldwide
Bupa Group have a long history of championing
patients’ interests, particularly in the areas of
wellbeing, chronic disease management and ageing.
As a leading healthcare company, Bupa works
closely with governments and key industry bodies
to help shape Australia’s healthcare system for a
positive and sustainable future.
Bupa Healthwatch Program
The Bupa Healthwatch Program of surveys and
polls is Bupa’s way of keeping ‘its finger on the
pulse’ of the Australian community’s understanding
of, and attitudes towards, their health and the
Australian healthcare system. For details of previous
Bupa Healthwatch Surveys and Polls visit bupa.com.au
The sample was 1,100 respondents aged 16 years
and older distributed through Australia.
Following the completion of interviewing, the data
was weighted by age, gender and State to reflect the
latest ABS population estimates.
Bupa Healthwatch Survey June 2009
The Bupa Healthwatch Survey was conducted online
by TNS Healthcare between 5-12 May 2009.
The sample was 1,200 respondents aged 18 years
and older distributed through Australia.
Following the completion of interviewing, the data
was weighted by age, gender and State to reflect the
latest ABS population estimates.
The findings in this report are informational only and are not intended to be,
nor should be relied on as, any form of advice.
For more information:
Phone: 1800 812 535
Address: PO Box 14639
Melbourne City MC Vic 8001
Web: bupa.com.au
© 2011 Bupa
Bupa Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 81 000 057 590