Question Time

Modbury Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister initiate an independent investigation into claims by the President of the Salaried Medical Officers Association that there have been at least three cases of patients experiencing poor outcomes as a result of the downgrade of the Modbury Hospital and that there may well have been avoidable deaths? If not, why not?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:12): Because that particular individual, I would take nothing he says at face. That is something I have said before. Second, he certainly doesn't represent the doctors who advise me. The second thing I would say is that if that particular individual is serious about having any matter investigated, we have procedures within the Department for Health.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: He should enter them, use the normal processes—

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order and warned.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: There are established systems that we have in place where any adverse event should be notified. If that individual is aware of anything, he should enter it on the appropriate system and have it investigated in that way.