Lyell McEwin Hospital Open Day

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, could you inform the house about the open day held at the Lyell McEwin Hospital last weekend, on Saturday 18 June?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:24): Thank you to the member for Little Para, who takes a keen interest in the Lyell McEwin Hospital, which is in the heart of his electorate. Indeed, my understanding is the member for Little Para was at the open day last Saturday and as well became a father again eight months ago at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, so he is very familiar with the wonderful services there. Both the member for Little Para and the member for Florey are strong advocates for the hospital and I am told both attended the open day on the weekend. I would particularly like to thank them both for their promotion of the event to their local communities.

The day was a great success, in part thanks to them but also thanks to the hardworking staff and clinicians from the Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals who gave up their time, and in some instances their days off, to make it happen. On Saturday, several hundred people from the north and north-east of Adelaide were treated to a special behind-the-scenes look at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. They were taken on guided tours of various areas of the hospital, including the purpose-built state-of-the-art cancer centre and the impressive women's and children's health hub.

The Lyell McEwin Hospital provides world-class hospital services to Adelaide's north and north-eastern community and, through Transforming Health, we are building up its capacity to ensure that many more people in this community are able to access hospital services within their local area. In fact, by 2016-17, due to population shifts towards our rapidly growing northern suburbs and the changes we are making, the Lyell McEwin Hospital together with Modbury Hospital will service almost half a million South Australians. That is why this government has exercised foresight, investing over $314 million in the Lyell McEwin Hospital since 2002 in the significant expansion of its services and facilities. Almost doubling in size, we have seen much change to the hospital in the past decade, transforming it into the major tertiary hospital for the north and north-eastern area.

I visited the Lyell Mac last Wednesday to hear from our clinicians about the recent service changes and the clinical improvement initiatives they are implementing through Transforming Health. Mr Speaker, I can tell you there is a real sense of positivity and enthusiasm among the clinicians working there. They told me about clinical improvements and innovations they have been leading in a range of health disciplines, all backed up by clinical evidence and data that is showing impressive and positive outcomes for patients of Modbury and Lyell McEwin hospitals.

It was clear that the clinicians are excited about the Lyell McEwin's continued transformation and are proud of the excellent care they are providing to patients. Last Saturday's open day also gave community members the chance to speak directly to our clinicians about changes at the hospital. The tour showed off the equipment and facilities that are used and there were information stalls, health demonstrations and other festivities, including face painting and a sausage sizzle that would rival that of Bunnings on a Saturday morning.

Importantly for our northern and north-eastern residents, the Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals are seeing excellent results for patients. Despite the busy winter period, I am told these hospitals continue to improve on the national four-hour emergency target and, on average, are still the highest performing hospitals in South Australia. These positive results are great news for our patients and a testament to the hardworking and dedicated doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health staff who care for our community every day.

Despite a small number of detractors determined to undermine the impressive improvements our clinicians have achieved, it is clear that recent changes we have made have been a success and, most importantly, have improved care for people who live in the north and the north-east.