Question Time

Enterprise Patient Administration System

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Health. Why is it that, after years of implementing the electronic patient administration system, there is still no accurate cost projection or completion time frame for this project? In the Auditor-General's supplementary report tabled in parliament today, he states:

Until EPAS is fully implemented at all in-scope sites, the full costs and benefits to be realised cannot be accurately determined. We remain of the opinion, however, that the Program's time frames, costs and estimation of required effort as specified in the original…business case were overly ambitious.

Mr Goldsworthy: What a shambles!

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

Ms Sanderson: Overspruiked and underdelivered.

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

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:22): I am very pleased that the Leader of the Opposition should ask me about the Auditor-General's Report because there is some salutary reading in there. The Auditor-General says—and I have not had an opportunity to read the report, but I did quickly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I issued a warning earlier on and, in accordance with that warning, I call to order the members for Hartley and Morialta.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I did quickly open the report and there, at the bottom, the Auditor-General says:

The implementation of EPAS at TQEH is a key indicator of whether EPAS will meet the functionality needs of all in-scope hospital sites.

And I will go on. He says:

A May 2016 review by an external consultant to assess implementation readiness of TQEH implementation indicated that stakeholders were cautiously confident about the full EPAS implementation and preparations were largely on track.

He goes on to say:

The review stated that overall, staff were positive about EPAS and its potential to deliver long-term benefits to the hospital.

That is what the Auditor-General has to say about EPAS. Doesn't that contradict everything the nay-sayers of the opposition have had to say about EPAS and aren't they going to look stupid as they are exposed as being whingeing, whining, harping? They have absolutely nothing positive to say, no positive contribution to say about health care in this state.

The Auditor-General has had a very good look at EPAS. This has been something that has had review upon review upon review by the Auditor-General and there we have it in black and white. Mr Speaker, I can tell you now there is an enormous amount of enthusiasm about EPAS among the health workers in our state. I can say particularly that is the case with nurses.

The opposition pretend nurses don't exist. They are not actually interested in the important role nurses have in our health system. But, Mr Speaker, I can tell you this: on this side of the house, if I was to take the attitude the opposition leader does when it comes to nurses, I know there are at least two members of my backbench who would be baying for blood because nurses play such a crucial role. I can tell you that nurses are incredibly enthusiastic about EPAS and about its potential to improve patient outcomes.

This is about dragging the South Australian health system into the 21^st century. I know that's something the opposition don't give two hoots about. I know that their vision for health care in this state goes back to the 1950s and hasn't progressed beyond that, but on this side of the house we are very, very proud of everything we are doing to reform our health system. We are very, very proud of EPAS and its potential to improve patient outcomes. Keep asking me about EPAS because I'm more than happy to talk about it.

Members interjecting:

Mr MARSHALL: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: I'm appalled that the Minister for Health debated that answer, and I call him to order for that. I also call to order the members for Schubert, Hammond, Davenport, Elder, Stuart, Mitchell and the leader. The leader may be seated. I warn for the first time the members for Morialta, Kavel, Hartley and Newland, the latter for unduly loud sighing. I warn for the second and final time the members for Morialta and Hartley and the deputy leader. The member for Fisher.