COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICES

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon) (14:31): I ask the Minister for Health: what is the government doing to provide medical—

Mr Venning interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Schubert!

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: I ask the Minister for Health: what is the government doing to provide medical services closer to home to South Australians living outside the metropolitan area?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:32): I thank the member for Croydon for that question. I know that he not only represents a city electorate but he has a strong interest in regional South Australia. He regularly visits country locations, and I know he is particularly interested in regional horseracing and other activities.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Shall we listen to the Minister for Health?

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Regional by-elections are a particular hobby of his. Since coming to office, this government has increased the range of services available in country hospitals.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Ask a question, member for Finniss. I will give you the answer.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Would you please listen to the Minister for Health in silence.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: As a government we are very committed to providing more services closer to home for country patients.

An honourable member: You are joking!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: The opposition said: 'You are joking.' I will go through the reality. We have provided a great deal more services in country health since we have been in office. There are two reasons for this: firstly, it is good for the patients to have services closer to home and, secondly, we want as few people coming to Adelaide to use hospital services in the city as we can manage, because if we can take the pressure off the city hospitals that means there are more places available in the city. We do not have to build extra hospitals, so it is a logical use of resources.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I welcome a question from the member, any time indeed. We understand the importance for country residents being able to access high-quality, reliable health care services without having to confront the additional inconvenience and distress of having to travel vast distances. This also helps alleviate additional demands on our busy metropolitan services, as I said. In 2009-10, $630.4 million will be spent on public hospitals and health services in country South Australia. This is $250 million, or 66 per cent, more than in 2001-02, the last year of the former Liberal government.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I can assure the member that there has not been an inflation rate of 66 per cent since 2002. Madam Speaker, the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, I cannot hear the minister speaking!

Mr Venning interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Venning interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Schubert; behave yourself! You have an interest in country hospitals.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: He'll need one if carries on like that, Madam Speaker. The Rann government has also increased the capacity of country health services by doubling the number of country doctors. There have been 23 extra equivalent full-time doctors working through our services and an additional 663 nurses employed across country South Australia since 2002—663 more nurses working in country hospitals in the term of this government.

An important feature of improving services in country regions, of course, is ensuring that country hospitals have access to high-tech medical equipment. The member for Flinders would be pleased to know that the government has provided $297,000 for a new cardiac and anaesthetic monitoring system for the Port Lincoln Hospital. I look forward to his positive press release congratulating me on that. This new equipment will ensure the safe and effective delivery of care for patients by providing a cardiac and anaesthetic monitoring system that is functional, reliable and meets the clinical need of an increasing number of patients.

Both nursing and medical staff at the hospital have had input into the requirements of the new equipment to ensure patients are getting the best possible care. The member for Frome will be pleased to know that we are spending $140,000 to provide a new steriliser and replacement scopes for the Port Pirie Hospital. All surgical services are heavily reliant on safe and effective sterilisation and scoping services, and any failure in these areas will reduce the functional capacity across all service areas. This new equipment ensures a safe and effective delivery of care for patients in the Port Pirie region. While I am on Port Pirie, of course, we are in the process of planning a new renal dialysis service at that hospital.

The Peterborough Soldiers Memorial Hospital will also receive $15,000 for defibrillators, and the Laura and Boolaroo hospitals will each receive $20,000 for a ventilator, the Oxylog 2000 machine. This investment comes on top of the announcement that the Port Pirie Hospital will become a regional chemotherapy hub as well. This investment is about ensuring country hospitals are maintained and improved so patients can have the best environment in which to be treated and to restore their health.

Madam Speaker, I know that you will be pleased to know that the Whyalla Hospital has received $40,000 for two replacement scopes, which are used predominately for elective surgery. Elsewhere in the region, Coober Pedy will receive $35,100 for a new X-ray machine. In addition, Roxby Downs Hospital will receive $56,000 for a portable X-ray unit. The Murray Bridge Hospital has received funding of $192,000 for a new cardiac monitor, and the Mannum Hospital will receive $117,000 for a new infusion system. This comes on top of the recently announced $200,000 for the upgrade of the Mannum Hospital Emergency Department, which is due to commence in 2010-11.

During the recent election campaign the government committed a $22 million fund over four years to improve facilities and purchase new biomedical equipment to improve and expand services in country communities. In the first three years some of these projects undertaken will include $200,000 on the Mannum accident and emergency upgrade; $200,000 on the Cummins accident and emergency upgrade; $400,000 on the Mount Gambier theatre upgrade; and over $400,000 for emergency power generation at Angaston, Kapunda and Berri. The money from this fund will be drawn from SA Health's minor capital works funds, and close to 40 per cent of this fund will now be reserved for hospitals in country communities. Country communities are justifiably proud of their hospitals, and in many cases have—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Ask a question, member for Finniss.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Ask a question.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: You have an opportunity, ask a question. Country communities, Madam Speaker, are just—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Ask a question. I will not respond to interjections from you. Country communities are justifiably proud, Madam Speaker, as you know, of their hospitals, and in many cases have contributed to their hospitals through fundraising efforts, and I applaud them for it. The country hospitals fund, announced during the election, will ensure that country hospitals continue to provide excellent health care to country residence in South Australia. I invite all members on the other side, if they have issues to do with country hospitals, to please ask questions. I look forward to hearing from you.