Question Time

Emergency Departments

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): My question is to the Minister for Health. Why has the proportion of emergency department patients seen on time gone backwards by 10 per cent over the last three years when the national average has improved by 2 per cent over the same period?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:05): I thank the deputy leader for the question. It's a good question, and there are several reasons. Firstly, I would point out that the report takes in last year's winter; it doesn't take in this year's winter. Last year's winter was the worst winter we had on record in our emergency departments. We had more presentations and the worst flu season—more flu notifications than we had ever had—so we had a significant deterioration in our emergency department performance arising from that.

This year, this winter, we had an even greater number of flu presentations, as there were around the country, a greater number of flu notifications and a greater number of emergency department presentations than we had on record as well, and yet we were able to reduce the average length of stay in our emergency departments by 26 minutes. That is an extraordinary achievement when you consider we had the worst winter on record in our emergency departments; nonetheless, we were able to reduce the length of stay in our emergency departments by 26 minutes.

It goes to show what you can achieve with the sort of health reforms which we are undertaking. You can significantly reduce the length of stay in your emergency departments despite having had—

Mr Tarzia: Thanks, Jack.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I thank the member for Hartley for acknowledging it, but it's not about me—

The SPEAKER: You thank him; I call him to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —it's about our doctors and nurses and the work that they are doing in our emergency departments. I congratulate them on the hard work they are doing because it's not only doctors and nurses in our emergency departments, it's the doctors and nurses and the systems we have in our hospitals which, at the end of the day, mean that patients are seen more quickly. If they need to be admitted into a bed, they are admitted into a bed more quickly, and one is available if one is needed in our emergency departments through the reforms which we have been rolling out.

I emphasise that the report does not take into account winter for this year—for the 2015 year. Next year, when it does, we will see a considerable turnaround. I am confident that, as we continue to roll out the reform program that we have, we will see continued improved performance in our EDs.