The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has agreed to include information on the sex and age distribution of healthcare injuries in future publications. In an earlier update, we raised the question whether women are disproportionately affected by healthcare injuries, and drew attention
to the lack of published data on the issue. Please support our
petition for no-fault compensation for Australian injured patients.

Sarah wrote to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, raising two issues: the fact that since the Coalition government cut funding in 2015, data is no longer collected concerning the number of healthcare injury compensation claims and their success rate; and that while data on the sex and age
distribution of healthcare injuries is collected, it is not published.

The AIHW has replied, saying: “You are correct that these analyses are not generally presented by age/sex, and I agree that it would be sensible to do so. Data for 2021-22 is scheduled to be released next month – we would not be able to amend those data tables in time for that release, but will look at incorporating some analyses by age and sex where we can for future releases.

“In relation to the (discontinued) medical indemnity collection, unfortunately funding for that work program ceased a number of years ago and there is no indication at this point that it might be renewed.”

So by May of next year, we should know whether women are disproportionately represented among those affected by healthcare injuries. As regards the vital issue of data collection concerning healthcare injury compensation claims, we will continue to raise this with politicians to get the necessary funding restored.

We know that only 1% to 3% of healthcare injuries are compensated, but those figures are based on outdated national data and current Victorian data. We need current national data in order to expose the extent to which Australians who suffer healthcare injuries are left unacknowledged and uncompensated.

Please continue to share our petition and encourage people to sign it. We are very grateful for your continuing support.

Sarah and Vickie