Modbury Hospital

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): A supplementary: in those circumstances, could the Minister for Health explain to us, if there was a reduction, why the ambulance shuttle services were suddenly extended until—

The SPEAKER: It is a supplementary. The member appears to be reading it.

Ms CHAPMAN: That's fine. Why were the ambulance shuttle services extended as a result, you say, of a reduction?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:21): I think I know what the deputy leader is getting at, but I can't believe she would be so foolish as to ask such a question.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Maybe I should. From the very beginning we had a dedicated ambulance, not a shuttle service but a dedicated ambulance, whose job it was to assist in the transfer of patients from Modbury Hospital, and that continues. We have no reason to get rid of it. When I say that it was within what we had modelled, I was not trying to suggest that there had been a reduction; I said it was well within what we had modelled in terms of the number of transfers. It seems the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has some difficulty understanding that.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan interjecting:

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