HEALTH SYSTEM

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Can the minister inform the house about the processes involved in making improvements to services in our public health system, particularly services in the north and the north-east?

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) (14:33): I thank the member for Florey for her question. It was wonderful for her to join me at the so-called community rally on the front steps of Parliament House earlier today. I think the member for Florey and I were the only people there who weren't pre-selected Liberal Party candidates, but nonetheless it was good to be there. The member for Schubert was there. I do not think he lives anywhere near the north and the north-eastern suburbs.

The SPEAKER: He is not preselected.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Indeed, I am corrected. The member for Florey, me and the member for Schubert were the only non-preselected Liberal Party candidates there early today. Nonetheless, it is always a pleasure to have my first time addressing a Liberal Party branch meeting, and I hope I get repeated invitations to do so.

The government plans for clinical services in our public health system from a patient's perspective on a system-wide level rather than each individual hospital. In making decisions about what services to provide to South Australians and where, it takes into account the size and distribution of the population as well as projected demand. It is also critical that the data used to make these decisions is accurate.

For the consolidation of the paediatric services in the north, the local health network engaged with clinical staff to ensure that data presented was correct and any questions raised were answered. Consideration is always given to access, need for travel by a patient, volume of service required to achieve quality outcomes for patients, clinical competencies for clinicians and cost effectiveness. SA's Health Care Plan 2007-2016 sets out important changes to the clinical service profile and capacity requirements for the Lyell McEwin.

The government has invested in the Lyell McEwin to transform it into one of three tertiary hospitals serving the South Australian public, with a corresponding increase in volume and complexity. As one of three general hospitals in metropolitan Adelaide, the plan outlines Modbury Hospital as tailoring its services to meet the needs of the ageing population in the north-eastern suburbs, with an emphasis on general medicine and general surgery, and a specific focus on rehabilitation—

Mrs Redmond: So turning it into a nursing home?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Sorry, I can't hear you back there, Isobel.

Mrs Redmond: I said, 'So turning it into a nursing home.'

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Turning it into a nursing home.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Health is called to order. He will not refer to the member for Heysen by her Christian name.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: My apologies, sir; a lapse I will try not to repeat—aged care and palliative care services. A further review of paediatric services undertaken by the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network executive team and senior clinicians has since been made to identify opportunities to be identified to deliver appropriate, effective and high quality services to the local community.

The Modbury paediatric ward is underused. The most recent data I have to hand is that, of the eight beds at the moment in the Modbury paediatric ward, only one is being occupied. In a hospital that is at capacity, there are people in the emergency department waiting to be admitted into the hospital, but cannot be, obviously, into the paediatric ward where there are seven beds free. This is exactly what I am talking about.

Maybe the Leader of the Opposition would like to go down to that emergency department, speak to the patients there who are waiting to be admitted and explain to them why there needs to be seven empty beds in the Modbury Hospital that are unable to be used. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition would like to go down there and explain that to those patients.

Ms CHAPMAN: Clearly this is debate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I think the deputy leader is correct; it is debate. Is the Minister for Health finished?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Yes.