Question Time

Chemotherapy Treatment Error

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): Can the Premier inform the house what he was referring to in his comments, made publicly this morning, when he said that there had been 'a cover-up' in the chemotherapy underdosing saga, and what action has the Premier taken to address this?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:10): Well, there is no doubt—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: One needs only to look at the Villis Marshall report, which indicates that there was a failure to follow the normal protocols when an adverse event occurs in one of our hospitals, a misleading of both the department and myself about the nature of what had happened. Clearly, in the case of Flinders Medical Centre, the underdosing had continued and patients, including Mr Knox, had been underdosed when, if the normal procedures had been followed, that wouldn't have happened. So, that is what the Premier was referring to. There is no secret about that—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —as that has all been canvassed in the Villis Marshall report.

The SPEAKER: I call the leader to order for interrupting the minister.