MODBURY HOSPITAL

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Health. What improvements have been made in delivering services at Modbury public hospital since it was taken back into government hands?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:17): I thank the member for Florey for this important question, and I acknowledge her strong advocacy for the Modbury Hospital. As members would recall, Modbury Hospital was privatised by the Liberal government in 1995. On 1 July 2007, this government fulfilled an election commitment when the management of Modbury Hospital was transferred from Healthscope (the private manager) back into state government hands. Since coming back into government hands in July 2007, we have increased the workforce at Modbury Hospital by 11 extra doctors (full-time equivalent), 10 nurses (full-time equivalent) and 13 other full-time equivalent staff. In fact, since the last year of the last Liberal government, Modbury Hospital's budget has grown by 60 per cent ($32 million).

As part of South Australia's Health Care Plan (also released in 2007), Modbury Hospital was identified as a high-volume elective surgery site. We also announced that the hospital would tailor its services to meet the needs of the ageing population in the north-eastern suburbs by expanding in the areas of rehabilitation, aged care and palliative care. In the first full year under government hands, 2,351 elective surgery procedures were performed, which was 304 (or 15 per cent) more than in the last year that Healthscope ran it, which was 2006-07.

The recent state budget included a further $1.08 million for an elective surgery ward upgrade and $275,000 for elective surgery equipment from the commonwealth elective surgery reduction plan. Of course, this is in accordance with South Australia's health plan to transform Modbury Hospital into an elective surgery and rehabilitation hub. Additionally, I can advise that, since February 2009, Modbury Hospital has reintroduced a plastic surgery service, with the appointment of a visiting medical specialist. A fifth general surgeon also commenced in February this year.

South Australia's Health Care Plan also committed $12 million towards improving the infrastructure at Modbury Hospital and identified Modbury Hospital as a general hospital. The recent state budget allocated $832,000 plus for the 2009-10 year (as part of the $12 million) to continue the upgrading of sewer pipe infrastructure and airconditioning plant. We have already undertaken work, which includes $1.7 million in upgrading the plumbing. The rest of the $12 million will be allocated to work on sewage systems, cooling and hot water systems, energy and water saving measures and the removal of asbestos.

As part of the transformation of Modbury Hospital, a Geriatric Evaluation Management Unit (GEM unit) was opened in March this year. Patients in this unit will be assessed by a range of different medical specialists who will provide an interdisciplinary assessment to minimise functional decline and ensure a safe and timely return home, if and when appropriate.

I understand that doctors at Modbury still have some concerns regarding the changes at the hospital. I was at Modbury Hospital last Wednesday, along with the member for Florey, to give a presentation and to listen to what the doctors and other staff had to say. I understand doctors met again last night and have expressed some concerns about the establishment of the GEM unit and they also restated their wish for an intensive care unit at the hospital. In fact, Staff Society minutes from last night claim that 'the government plans to progressively erode clinical services at Modbury'.

I reject this claim. Our plan is to establish an integrated health system for all South Australians. Under this plan, not every hospital can provide every service. In fact, no hospital will provide every service. Modbury Hospital has an important role to play in this integrated health system and will provide services for its community.

I am confident that, as clinical negotiations continue with the doctors at Modbury, further improvements can be made to inter-hospital transfer arrangements and other issues revolving around peri-operative care. However, the advice I have from intensive care experts is that a significant amount of elective surgery can be undertaken safely with a high dependency unit. An ICU is not needed for the profile of the hospital and, indeed, would be impossible to staff. There has not been an intensive care doctor at the hospital since the last half-time intensivist left in 2006, when the hospital was still under the management of Healthscope.

I am always prepared to listen to doctors and, following my meeting last week at which they raised concerns about bed numbers, we are now examining the possibility of increasing the flexibility in bed numbers to meet demand in peak seasons, particularly over winter. We are also examining the possibility of establishing an acute assessment medical unit, with additional beds to relieve pressure on the emergency department by providing capacity for longer term emergency care.

The government remains committed to South Australia's Health Care Plan and, in particular, the GEM unit is an important step in achieving this plan. I remain confident that these issues will be overcome and that the people of the north-eastern Adelaide area will continue to receive excellent health care tailored to their needs at the Modbury Public Hospital.