COUNTRY DIALYSIS SERVICES

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, how are dialysis rates increasing in country South Australia in line with the increase in services in regional hospitals?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (15:08): Thank you. Unfortunately dialysis is a growing pressure on our health system because the number of people who have renal failure and who need dialysis is growing. As part of our overall health reforms, we have been investing in more health services in country areas, to treat people close to their homes and to make better use of the facilities in the under-utilised network of hospitals in country South Australia. That includes $175 million, in partnership with the commonwealth, to upgrade four country general hospitals at Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Berri, and we are also making investments in chemotherapy, elective surgery, dialysis and mental health services across country South Australia, so the member for Reynell's question is most timely.

I have talked previously in this place about the impact of this shift, with separations in country hospitals increasing from 85,000 in 2005-06 to more than 94,500 in 2010-11, so real growth in the amount of service provided to country South Australians. That percentage growth was 4 per cent (up from minus 0.7 per cent growth in 2006-07), compared to a 1.2 per cent growth in metro hospitals which is down from 4.6 per cent. In other words, the amount of activity in the country is growing at a faster rate than the activity in the city. That is a good thing because it means we are putting more services closer to where people live, and that means fewer people in the country have to come to the city for services. That is good for them and, obviously, it is good for the busy metropolitan hospitals.

New figures from the Department of Health and Ageing show that the increased investment in dialysis in regional areas has led to separations increasing (that is, the number of times people use the service) from 6,378 in 2006-07 to 14,117 in 2010-11. That is over double over that time. It is sad in one respect because that means more people are needing dialysis, but it is also good that we are able to provide that closer to where they live.

Extra services have been provided in a number of areas including Whyalla (in your electorate, Madam Speaker), Port Pirie, Victor Harbor and elsewhere. We have also got designated chemotherapy sites being established within hospitals at Port Lincoln, Mount Gambier, Port Augusta, Mount Barker, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge, Gawler, Wallaroo, Naracoorte and Clare. Port Pirie is the jewel in the crown and has been providing a very decent chemotherapy service for a number of years. The state government's redevelopment of the hospital at Berri will provide chemotherapy services as part of the Whyalla Regional Cancer Centre.

Of course, we are also investing in increased elective surgery in country hospitals, with $88.6 million over four years funding nearly 260,000 procedures across South Australia, including 67,650 procedures in our country hospitals. I am proud of the service delivery we are making through Country Health. The facts about Country Health stand in stark contrast to the continual distortions made by the Liberal Party when they travel around country electorates.