HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:28): Will the Minister for Health confirm the figures printed in the Auditor-General's Report yesterday which showed that there were 19,000 fewer admissions to SA metropolitan hospitals during 2007-08 than the previous year? The figures show a decrease from 300,464 inpatient presentations in 2007 to 281,297 in 2008.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:28): I do thank the deputy leader for this Dorothy Dix question, because she has highlighted the fact that our policies to transform the nature of the health system are working. We are investing millions and millions of dollars in out-of-hospital care: divergent strategies, the GP Plus Health Care strategy, the healthdirect telephone system, advertising to keep people out of emergency departments when they do not need to be there—and, guess what? It is actually working; we have had a reduction in the number of admissions. This is absolutely great news, and a piece of news that should be celebrated by the opposition rather than condemned.