GLENSIDE HEALTH SERVICE

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Can the minister please inform the house on the government's safety measures at Glenside Health Service?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:42): I thank the member for Florey for her interest in mental health issues in our state. The government has invested heavily to modernise our state's mental health services, including at the Glenside Health Service. Mental health services have been transformed, with more than $300 million of investment under this Labor government, and our work is continuing.

We have transitioned the state away from an outdated asylum-style of care to a modern and flexible environment. This is providing South Australian mental health consumers, their families and staff with a space to promote healing and recovery. The government is continuing its investment at the Glenside Health Service site with $3 million to strengthen fire safety measures. This investment includes an advanced fire sprinkler system across the site and modification to the duress alarms to improve the safety of consumers and staff, and the protection of infrastructure.

The current fire safety system already meets building codes and provides a good level of protection to staff and consumers. Following a review of a recent fire on the site, we have decided to make this investment to ensure that the safety of consumers and staff, and the protection of this important infrastructure, are enhanced to the fullest extent. These improvements will allow the complete transition to the Glenside Health Service to be complete in December this year.

I can also update the house that implementation of recommendations from the independent review of mental health bed capacity and flow is progressing well, following a period of consultation with interested parties. My priority as health minister is to ensure that we have the best possible services available to South Australians, and that safety and security is maintained at all our facilities for all our patients and hardworking health professionals. This government is committed to continuing to improve mental health services in this state.