Figure 6 - Relative trends in public patient planned, surgical separations by age and month. The source is the AHS data for all hospitals for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. The X-axis shows month and year, starting at June 2007 and ending at June 2009. The Y-axis is named 2006-07 year = 100.
The trends in public patient planned surgical separations are presented by age group. There are five lines representing under-20 years, 20 to 29 years, 30 to 49 years, 50 to 64 years, and 65 years and over. “Surcharge changes” is marked on each line at October 2008.
The growth has been higher for older age groups - 65 and over, and 50 to 64. The growth is lowest for the age group 30 to 49. Each age group shows similar fluctuations, with a slight overall downward trend from July 2007 to March 2008. Each age group then trends upwards from March 2008 to March 2009. Following a decrease from March 2009 to May 2009, there is a slight increase to June 2009 for all age groups. 
The under-20 age group ends at approximately 105. The 20 to 29 age group ends at approximately 104. Trends for 30 to 49 end at just below 102. Trends for 50 to 64 and 65 and over end just over 106.