Women's and Children's Hospital

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:27): My question is again to the Minister for Health. Now that the minister has revealed plans to accelerate the co-location of the Women's and Children's Hospital with the new RAH, can he detail when the new hospital will be operational, the estimated costs for the redevelopment, and whether this has been factored into the forward estimates?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:28): No, it hasn't been factored into the forward estimates. We are investigating whether it is possible to bring forward the relocation of the Women's and Children's Hospital. At the moment—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: No, it says we are investigating bringing it forward. It is certainly my desire, if it is possible, funds and everything else being available, to do it. There are several problems we have with the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Women's and Children's Hospital being separate. One is, of course, the children who are medically evacuated by helicopter. At the moment, the helicopter needs to land at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. They then need to be transferred by ambulance from the Royal Adelaide Hospital to the Women's and Children's Hospital. Far better to have them co-located so the helicopter can land. They can be taken straight into hospital and given effective treatment.

The other issue is for women, who need intensive care, who have babies that are born prematurely. At the moment, the only neonatal unit in the state that has adult intensive care co-located with it is at the Flinders Medical Centre. It is far more desirable for women who are giving birth to prem babies, that you don't have to separate the two—that they are kept together. They are very good reasons why the Women's and Children's Hospital should be co-located. We are looking at options to be able to bring that forward, and I would be very happy to come back to the house as soon as we've made progress on that.

The SPEAKER: Before the next question, I ask the member for Chaffey did he interject that the Minister for Health has suffered one blow too many, or words like it? Because I will have reference to the tape after question time. Could the member for Chaffey make a decision about whether he uttered words like that?

Mr WHETSTONE: I asked the Minister for Health if he'd had one punch too many.

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey will withdraw and apologise for the use of words such as that.

Mr WHETSTONE: I withdraw and apologise for asking the minister if he'd had one punch too many.

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey, instead of being smart and repeating the insult, will merely rise and withdraw and apologise.

Mr WHETSTONE: I withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. The leader.