House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Lymphoedema Assessment Clinic LYMPHOEDEMA ASSESSMENT CLINIC Ms FOX House of Assembly Bright LYMPHOEDEMA ASSESSMENT CLINIC Ms FOX (Bright) (15:04): Is the Minister for Health aware of Professor Piller's views about the closure of the Lymphoedema Assessment Clinic at the Flinders Medical Centre? Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Health, I hope you heard that question. I only heard half of it myself. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.D. HILL House of Assembly Kaurna Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister for the Southern Suburbs Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts 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) (15:04): The question was, am I aware of Professor Neil Piller's views about the closure of the lymphoedema clinic at the Flinders Medical Centre? As it happens, I now am. I have just been handed a media statement put out by the Flinders Surgical Oncology Clinic Pty Ltd and it goes thus: The Lymphoedema Assessment Clinic based at Flinders Medical Centre is privately operated and led by Flinders University Professor Neil Piller on a voluntary basis. The clinic is not funded by SA Health. The clinic provides an assessment service for people with lymphoedema, developing treatment and management plans which can be implemented by therapists based in the community in liaison with GPs. 'The Lymphoedema Assessment Clinic will be relocating from its current location. As a result the clinic will need to close for approximately 6 months effective from 1 July 2011,' Professor Piller said. 'All existing patients of the clinic have been contacted about the closure and have been provided with contact details for several South Australian lymphoedema therapists.' 'I am completely supportive of the relocation and temporary closure of the clinic.' Professor Piller is currently overseas and intends to continue with the Lymphoedema Assessment Clinic as soon as a new location is determined. Professor Piller will continue to undertake lymphoedema research during the relocation. There is a post office box in Melrose Park, SA, and at the bottom it says, 'Flinders Surgical Oncology Clinic Pty Ltd', and the ACN number. Incidentally, the member for Morphett asked me why we had seven staff working at Palm Lodge: I am advised that at any one time there is one staff member on duty.