Question Time

LEIGH CREEK HOSPITAL

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (14:06): I direct my question to the Minister for Health. Given that South Australian country residents have been given the opportunity to shape our destiny by engaging with the planning process for future health services, and as the Leigh Creek Health Service Board recommended to the minister that there be no change to the services provided at the Leigh Creek Hospital, will he agree to accept the board's recommendation or will he reserve the right to override it?

The minister would be aware that the Leigh Creek Hospital provides a service to the local mining community but, equally, it provides a service to the vast areas of the outback. Due to the isolated nature of the area, the importance of the hospital cannot be over-emphasised. It is good parish pump politics.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:07): I thank the member for Stuart for his question and, as he said, it is good parish pump politics, and he is a remarkably good parish pump practitioner. I hope that the basketballer who follows him will be equally as good at scoring goals, but somehow or other I doubt it very much.

On 6 June last year, the Treasurer brought down the budget. On that same occasion, at a briefing to people from the health sector, I said that within the next six to 12 months I would produce a country health plan, and I intend to honour that commitment. When I do produce the plan, it will have a number of features which will see an increase in the amount of acute care that is provided in the country. We will also see an increase in the amount of primary health care in country South Australia.

As I have said before, the health outcomes for people in country South Australia are not as good as those for the state overall. I think there are a whole range of issues in relation to primary health care that need urgent attention in the country and, of course, there are a whole range of services that could be provided in the country, for which people now have to come to the city.

In addition to that, we need to maintain a very extensive range of emergency services throughout country South Australia. Those three goals: improving country primary care, improving country and acute care and improving while maintaining emergency services, will be the parameters in which the country Health Care Plan will operate. As I say, I will give a more detailed explanation in the near future.