ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Health. Do you agree that the National Healthcare Agreement's recognised hospital safe working capacity is 85 per cent occupancy, and can you confirm that on Sunday 3 April 2011 the Royal Adelaide Hospital was at 106 per cent capacity, with the cardiovascular service at 111 per cent capacity, internal medicine at 108 per cent capacity, and the orthopaedic and trauma service at 106 per cent capacity?

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) (14:51): I am very pleased that the member asked this question, because it highlights why we need a new Royal Adelaide Hospital—because the current hospital is just not big enough and there is nothing you can do to make it big enough in the time frame by which we need it to be increased in size. We need more beds, we need more operating theatres and we need more emergency department capacity.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: We are going to do all of that and every single step we take you knock. All you can do is knock progress in this state. Greg Kelton had it right, Alexander Downer has it right: you are absolutely the most miserable bunch of pessimists and opportunists that this state has ever seen.

An honourable member: Mediocre I think was the word used.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Mediocre, B grade people.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!