This dataset presents the footprint of the rate of in-hours and after-hours emergency department (ED) presentations per 1,000 people. Both measures have been calculated with the numerator as the total number of eligible presentations and the denominator as the estimated resident population as at 30 June at the beginning of the reporting period. The data spans the financial years 2013-2016 and is aggregated to Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) geographic areas from the 2011 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).
In-hours ED attendances include attendances where the patient presented to a public hospital ED on weekdays on or after 8am and before 8pm, or Saturdays on or after 8am and before 1pm (excluding public holidays). Attendances were included if the patient was assigned a triage category of 3 (urgent), 4 (semi-urgent) or 5 (non-urgent), was not subsequently admitted to hospital and had an 'emergency presentation' type of visit.
After-hours ED attendances include attendances where the patient presented to a public hospital ED on weekdays before 8am or on or after 8pm, Saturdays before 8am or on or after 1pm, or any time on Sundays and public holidays. Attendances were included if the patient was assigned a triage category of 3 (urgent), 4 (semi-urgent) or 5 (non-urgent), was not subsequently admitted to hospital and had an 'emergency presentation' type of visit.
For further information about this dataset, visit the data source:[Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - Use of emergency department and GP services, 2013-14 to 2015-16 Data Tables](https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/use-emergency-department-gp-services-2015-16/data)
Please note:
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AURIN has spatially enabled the original data using the Department of Health - PHN Areas.
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Values assigned to "n.p." in the original data have been removed from the data.
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Data for SA3s 11002, 20301, 20303, 20505, 30101, 30102, 31901 for 2013-2014, 10902, 11002, 20301, 20303, 20505, 21002, 30101, 30102, 30601, 31901 for 2014-2015, and 10104, 10902, 11002, 20303, 20505, 30101, 30102, 31901 for 2015-2016 should be interpreted with caution, reported data includes 90-95% of public hospital emergency service presentations for residents in these area.