Privately insured increasingly using public hospitals

The number of patients with private health cover accessing the public health system has increased dramatically over the past 10 years.

Privately insured looking increasingly to public hospitals Source: AAP

Hospital waiting lists are a problem that always seems to be getting worse.

Now, a new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows a growing disparity between the care provided to public and private patients at the same hospital.

The institute's Jenny Hargreaves says the study shows privately insured patients are getting preferential access.