Brain Injury and Spinal Injury Units

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): Can the minister explain to the house how many beds will be reduced from both the brain injury and the spinal injury units? My understanding is there is a total of 19 beds. The minister has just explained to the house that it is two or three. Can we have some clarity around this issue please?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:55): I do not know about brain injury, but I have been advised about spinal injury. It is probably anticipated that the number of beds will be 22 and are 25 at the moment, but we are very confident that with improvements in rehabilitation, and in particular engaging patients in their rehabilitation far earlier than currently happens, that will more than provide for any increase in capacity we will need.

As always with bed numbers, we provide the number of beds that we need based upon presentations that we have and we are always able to flex up the number of beds to make sure that patients who need to be accommodated can be accommodated. Spinal injuries and brain injuries will be no different from anywhere else, and if we need extra beds at any time because we have an influx in the number of patients requiring a particular service, we will make sure those patients get looked after.