Transforming Health

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): Supplementary: if the patient is requiring emergency surgery—and we've confirmed that emergency surgery is closing at Modbury—which hospital will the patient be diverted to?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:34): If they have a life-threatening emergency, then they would go to the Lyell McEwin. As I said, if the Leader of the Opposition was listening—

Mr Marshall: They're on bypass. Do they just drive around until somebody can take them? Where are they going to go?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The Leader of the Opposition needs to learn the art of listening to answers. What I said in the previous answer when I was explaining load levelling—what happens is that ambulances will not unusually be moved to a hospital where it is less busy. If they have a life-threatening illness, that will not happen; they would take them to the closest, most appropriate hospital. For example, a person who is critically injured or having a stroke would never be diverted; they would always be seen at the closest hospital. When we divert patients, it is always lower acuity patients where it is sensible to take them to an emergency department that is less busy. That is not unusual. That is the way our health system operates.