Ambulance Services

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (14:06): My question is to the Minister for Health. Given that the cost of ambulance inter-hospital transfers are currently covered—I am sorry, I will start that again. Given that the cost of ambulance inter-hospital transfers are currently covered by SA Health, will the cost of—

The Hon. P. Caica: Start again, Mitch.

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton's attire is not a fit topic for question time. He is not responsible to the house. The member for MacKillop.

Ms CHAPMAN: Mr Speaker, we just spent two days debating a bill in which jewellery and attire were the subject of criminal prosecution. It certainly is.

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop.

Mr WILLIAMS: Sir, I think I will start yet again. Given that the cost of ambulance inter-hospital transfers are currently covered by SA Health, will the cost of the additional travel time of ambulances diverted past the downgraded emergency departments be picked up by SA Health?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:08): No. We have certainly put more budget provision in for ambulance services as part of our costings of Transforming Health because we expect that there would be some additional ambulance activity, but, in any case, I will check out the costing structures for ambulances. If I am correct, I am pretty sure it is a flat fee. At least the distances would be so negligible it certainly would not have an impact in any case on the amount that someone was charged.

I guess that the short way to answer the question would be is that I would not expect there to be any additional cost to someone who is being transported by ambulance to hospital by the fact that they might have to go a little bit further. I would be very, very surprised. I will double-check that, but I could pretty much reassure the house that there would not be any additional cost because someone was taken past the closest emergency department to go to the correct emergency department to be able to give them the appropriate treatment.