Modbury Hospital Volunteers

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:51): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier inform the house about his recent morning tea with volunteers at the Modbury Hospital?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:51): What a delightful group of men and women I did meet at the Modbury Hospital. They entertained me with too much cake and tea, nevertheless, it was a lovely experience.

On 21 October, I had this pleasurable experience at the Modbury Hospital together with the member for Florey. There are some 250 volunteers who actually do work at the Modbury Hospital and a number of them were at this lovely morning tea. I believe that some of these volunteers are with us today, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to them.

Since 2002, we have invested more than $30 million in Modbury Hospital through our program to modernise our healthcare system. We are now investing a further $32 million to turn it into a major elective surgery and rehabilitation hub in Adelaide's north and north-eastern suburbs. Despite the government's investment, our hospitals still very much rely on the work of our committed volunteers, and at Modbury Hospital they work in palliative care, for the Modbury Foundation, in chaplaincy and across the hospice in general.

They raise funds, provide food for patients and the public and give much-needed assistance and support to patients and the public. One story that did stick in my mind is the wonderful work that one beautiful lady did in going into the homes of people who were in the last stages of their life and gathering stories and putting those stories together in a way which enabled them to see their life, and it was a great comfort to them as they reflected on what had happened throughout the course of their life.

They were able to share these memories with the nurses and with family and friends as they came, and it was an extraordinary comfort in their last days. It was a wonderful thing to see. You just could not imagine such a service being paid for, being delivered by a government agency or, frankly, even a non-government or private agency. It is just simply something done out of love and beautifully delivered, and thank you so much for your wonderful service.

During my visit I was able to observe first-hand the newly-opened rehabilitation inpatient ward that is already busy providing vital care to ensure that patients regain their independence and get home sooner. This is an essential part of the modernisation of the health system—making sure that the rehabilitation services are right next to the hospital services so that you can get cracking on rehabilitation as soon as possible without having to get on to another queue.

Following the service changes and completion of construction works, Modbury Hospital is expected to see about 3,000 more patients a year and perform roughly 1,800 more elective procedures, including the capacity to undertake other important procedures. This will give residents faster access to elective surgery with fewer delays and cancelations.

An expanded one-stop breast cancer service was started earlier this year at Modbury Hospital, giving women access to a breast surgeon, a radiologist and a breast care nurse in the same location. Patients can also access other local health services in Modbury Hospital, such as mental health services and treatment for ongoing conditions like diabetes, heart disease and lung disease. In fact, all specialty outpatient services provided there before the service changes will continue.

Construction of the new state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre at Modbury Hospital started late last year and is well underway. When complete, there will be more rehabilitation beds and services and a purpose-built gym and hydrotherapy pool. Allied health will be available seven days a week, ensuring patients get the treatment they need as soon as possible.

The improvements to the Modbury and Lyell McEwin hospitals will ensure that the people of Adelaide's north and north-eastern suburbs receive the best care first time, every time. The member for Florey has always been a powerful and passionate advocate not only for her local community but also for her beloved Modbury Hospital. I know the volunteers who are here today share her love of that hospital and, together, you make it such a wonderful place that looks after our citizens. Thank you.