EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

18 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010). What percentage of critically ill patients ('category one patients') who are admitted to accident and emergency departments are not seen within 'reasonable acceptable' time frames?

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): I am advised:

100 per cent of category one patients presenting to accident and emergency departments in metropolitan public hospitals in 2009-10 (to 31 May 2010) were seen on time, as measured against the benchmark set by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. The same result was achieved in 2008-09.