Modbury Hospital

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister advise what changes will be made to breast cancer detection and care services at Modbury Hospital as a result of Transforming Health?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:14): Can I again pay tribute to the member for Florey, who is an absolute champion of the Modbury Hospital and has been for many years, even, if I recall correctly, sleeping in the car park to stop the Liberal Party's privatisation of the Modbury Hospital. This is a very important question, given the high incidence of breast cancer in South Australian women.

In South Australia, breast cancer is the most common cancer in females, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of all cancers diagnosed and, sadly, for nearly 15 per cent of all cancer deaths in women. Around 1,220 women in South Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. The good news is, while we are seeing an increase in female breast cancer diagnosis, death from breast cancer in South Australia has plateaued due to better screening programs and improvements in treatment options.

Under Transforming Health, people in the north and north-eastern suburbs will have better access to breast care services with a one-stop breast service starting at Modbury Hospital next month. Through this specialist breast clinic, women in the north and north-east will have access to a team of clinicians in one place, all on the same day, including a specialist breast surgeon, a radiologist and a dedicated breast care nurse.

For anyone, the possibility of cancer is a frightening experience, and this can be made worse by having to wait for results between specialist appointments. Instead of going to multiple separate appointments, the one-stop breast service at Modbury Hospital will enable patients to be thoroughly investigated and receive their radiology results straightaway. They will have access to diagnostic imaging and assessment services like biopsies and ultrasounds, all in the one service at Modbury Hospital.

An experienced surgeon will lead the care at Modbury Hospital with a breast care nurse offering patients and their loved ones emotional support, counselling, information and follow-up care. Together with the $10 million cancer centre at Lyell McEwin Hospital, Modbury Hospital will play a central role in the delivery of breast cancer care for patients in the north and north-east community.

We are building up health services in the north and north-east community. We saw the beginning of changes to Modbury and Lyell McEwin hospitals last week. At the same time, I took the opportunity to visit clinical staff who work there and to hear directly from them. I was heartened to hear, in the face of consistent undermining and scaremongering by some, the enthusiasm and dedication of the doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working there, leading the changes we need to improve outcomes for South Australians.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Thanks to the excellent clinical improvement initiatives they are implementing, we are already starting to see some exciting results. Under Transforming Health, we will see better quality care as well as more clinical staff and more public hospital services for the people of the north and north-eastern suburbs, with services like the one-stop breast service meaning better care for this community.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Chaffey, Hartley and Kavel, and I warn for the first time the members for Chaffey and Schubert. Leader.