MODBURY HOSPITAL

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:31): I want to speak today about an issue which has been close to my heart and which has occupied much of my thinking and actions since I moved to Modbury Heights in 1976, the year I moved into the house where my children lived almost all their life. Born in 1980 and 1982 respectively, my son and daughter have, thank goodness, needed to attend the Modbury Hospital only a few times, mostly for the usual breaks but, on occasion, for other more serious events, and I have needed emergency treatment there on two occasions. So, my family has the experience and interest to comment on Modbury Hospital, apart from my obvious passion and interest on and behalf of all in the north-eastern suburbs that we continue to enjoy the services of a health facility best equipped to look to our community's needs.

Many years ago, in conjunction with other concerned local residents, I became part of the Modbury Hospital Local Action Group, formed as a result of the then Liberal government's move to privatise Modbury Hospital and its services. Why would a government do such a thing? Clearly, it was looking to allow profit from illness and hospital services, underpinning a two-tier health system, something that continues to dog Australians despite that great Labor initiative way back called Medibank.

At the time that the Modbury Hospital Local Action Group was formed, there were many questions about how service delivery would be made and how the whole of the state system would work. The private company involved did not stay and, in one of my proudest moments, Modbury Hospital returned to the state health system, under a Labor government.

Almost since its beginning, I have been involved in making sure that Modbury Hospital retained its reputation and place in the health system. I have been involved in protests to keep it and to enhance it and now to maintain confidence in it. Those who have lately come into the discussions have come perilously close to seeing Modbury Hospital off by undermining its capacity to retain the confidence of the community.

From what some of them say, you would be forgiven for thinking that anyone left the Modbury Hospital alive. We all know that that is just not true. Hundreds of people have had their life saved and their wellbeing maintained, all due to the Modbury Hospital and the wonderful care they received, and I acknowledge, on behalf of all those hundreds of people, the hundreds of health professionals who have worked there and who have delivered such great care.

Unfortunately, some people do experience adverse outcomes. I am very sorry whenever I hear of those occasions, and I urge people to come forward to have those cases reported and investigated so that systemic changes can be made. That said, it is important that people understand how the health system operates and how the government is always evaluating and reviewing health service delivery.

That is why Friday's announcement of a public consultation into services at Modbury Hospital, partially around the consolidation of the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network's paediatric services, should not be surprising or cause hysteria, especially if you have any knowledge of the history of the involvement of health services in the north-east. When I heard of the announcement, I immediately sought information and suggested a public forum for discussion, something I have often done for issues at the hospital, most notably around obstetric services and parking.

I am pleased to say that the minister's office has informed me that Northern Adelaide Local Health Network will be holding two forums. The hospital management will be presenting the proposal and running both forums, which will be held at the Tea Tree Gully council building on Monday 26 June, from 7pm to 9pm, and on Wednesday 28 June, from 10am until noon. They are not being run by the council, but rather are being held at the council chambers, which is centrally located.

I hope everyone with concerns will attend or contact my office (the Florey electorate office), by phone, fax, email, or even our after-hours mail chute. Florey electorate staff are well versed in local knowledge and local problems, and are very interested in understanding how people's lives are going to be affected. That is why consultation is such a powerful tool.

Whatever the outcome, this government will ensure the best possible services, in consultation with health professionals and consumers. I need to hear all the facts to know how best to represent the committee, and I will be at the forums, working to make sure there is a good outcome. Irrespective of any future decision, children will still be seen at the Modbury Hospital. Unless parents sense some otherwise endangerment, help should always be sought there.

As demands on health services increase, it is vital to understand the needs of the public: babies and nursing mothers; adolescents and young families; and the older community members whose needs are ever-growing. Accordingly, we need to have a strong, integrated, sustainable health system; that is what we all want and need.

If we are all to understand that prevention strategies are important in this plan, and that people need to know first aid themselves and only use hospital services when it is absolutely essential, then that will mean those who need those services will be able to access them in their time of need. Again, I urge everyone to get involved in this consultation process. I have only had one call to the office so far.