Health Review

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I'm sure you, sir, would be aware, and as the minister would be aware, there are four levels of emergency department delineation under the national standard, starting from level 1, emergency department for rural emergency service, going up to a level 4 emergency department. What we would really like to know is: what is the current level provided at Noarlunga and what level will be provided post the Transforming Health proposal that the minister has now signed off on?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:10): I don't care about numbers—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —and I don't think anyone out there in the public cares a squat about what number may be assigned to what emergency department. What they are interested in is the services that that emergency department delivers. That's what they are interested in, not some classification for emergency department specialists. They are interested in the services that that emergency department offers. Let me be quite clear: we want the Noarlunga emergency department to continue delivering the high-level services that it currently does.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It is very, very good at seeing, treating and discharging almost nine in every 10 patients it sees. Whatever we do, I don't want to do anything which is going to interfere with the ability of Noarlunga Hospital to continue to do that.

The SPEAKER: Before the leader asks a further question, I call to order the members for Kavel, Chaffey, MacKillop and Flinders; I warn the member for Morialta a first time; I call to order the member for Heysen; I warn the leader for the first time; I warn the member for Schubert for the first and second time; and I call to order the member for Hammond and warn him for the first time. Leader.