NSW public hospital patients have the shortest emergency department wait times in the country, with four in five patients being seen within the target time frame.
Nationally, 73 per cent of emergency department patients were seen during the clinically appropriate time in 2016/17, according to a Productivity Commission report released on Tuesday.
Victoria (73 per cent) and NSW (81 per cent) were the only states to meet the national average with Northern Territory (61 per cent) and the ACT (62 per cent) the worst-performing areas.
Patients in Western Australia and South Australia were seen within the target time 64 per cent of the time, while Tasmania was only slightly better at 65 per cent.
Nationally, 50 per cent of elective surgery patients were admitted within 38 days of being put on a waiting list and 90 per cent were admitted within 258 days.
NSW had the longest wait times, with 90 per cent of patients seen within an average of 327 days while Victoria was the shortest wait at 162 days.
However, the report cautioned against comparing jurisdictions due to differences in clinical practices and classification of patients across Australia.
NT hospitals had the highest rate of infections of hospital patients, followed by the ACT and Tasmania.
Meanwhile, a separate report by the commission shows the NT had the highest suicide rate in 2016 followed by Tasmania.
The ACT had the lowest rate, with Victoria and NSW next.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
Local Aboriginal Medical Service details available from www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMS
