Women's and Children's Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister explain why parents were only informed last week about the use of non-sterilised syringes at the Women's and Children's Hospital more than three years ago?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:32): Because the matter only came to light relatively recently and, as soon as it did, and the chief executive of the Women's and Children's Hospital was informed of it, the procedures were put—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: No, they didn't. Procedures were—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Because a review was done, an audit was done, and that's how it came to light.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley will withdraw under the sessional order for the remainder of question time.

The honourable member for Unley having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: As soon as the chief executive of the Women's and Children's Hospital was made aware of it, it was appropriately briefed up. The 13 families of the children who were affected by this were informed from late last week, I think, and as soon as the final family was told we made this matter public. It's very important to point out that this new protocol led to a 50 per cent reduction in the infection rate, and the chances of any of those children having received an infection as a result of this lapse is very minimal.

I congratulate the Women's and Children's Hospital for the tremendous work they have done. I think this is textbook when it comes to dealing with these sorts of issues when they arise. I think they have done it very well, unlike the Leader of the Opposition who seems to be determined to scream across the chamber and deride our nurses and doctors in our public hospital.

Mr GARDNER: A point of order, Mr Speaker: standing order 98.

The SPEAKER: No, I don't uphold the point of order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who is determined to scream across the chamber, yelling, 'Shambles!' and deriding our hardworking doctors and nurses—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It's not something I agree with. It's not something I will be a party to. The people of South Australia will hold the Leader of the Opposition to account, when the appropriate time comes, for his blatant disregard for our public hospital sector.

Ms Digance interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elder is called to order. The member for Torrens.