Noarlunga Hospital

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:51): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Health. How will the recently completed infrastructure at Noarlunga Hospital improve health services in Adelaide's southern suburbs?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:51): I thank the member for Kaurna for the question and acknowledge his keen interest in Noarlunga Hospital and—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —not only the member for Kaurna but the members for Mawson, Reynell and the member for Fisher as well, who certainly, unlike members opposite who are screaming out, do actually take a strong interest in public health policy in this state.

I was excited to be at Noarlunga Hospital on 5 May, with the member for Fisher and the member for Reynell, to celebrate the completion of the government's $12 million infrastructure investment there. This follows nearly a year and a half of capital works that have transformed Noarlunga Hospital into a dedicated elective day and 23-hour surgery hub for our southern suburbs.

The members and I were lucky to have some of the doctors, nurses and allied health staff at Noarlunga provide us with a tour of the new facilities. This includes the new day surgery unit, which will see the number of elective surgery procedures currently provided there nearly double, meaning more elective surgery and shorter wait times for the southern suburbs. The two new state-of-the-art operating theatres and the first stage recovery area mean that Noarlunga now has a total of six procedural areas, with four theatres dedicated to day and 23-hour surgery and two dedicated to scopes. We have also seen an increase from eight to 12 chairs in the second stage recovery area.

The member for Reynell was so excited about the upgrade to Noarlunga Hospital that I hear she was back for another tour at the Noarlunga open day, which was held on Saturday. I understand the member for Kaurna, who also takes a great interest, attended Saturday's open day as well. Around 600 local community members attended the Noarlunga Hospital open day and their feedback was very positive. For example, comments received on feedback forms included, 'Great to see the new additions—good to know we still have these facilities in the south,' and, 'The hospital looks great—good improvement. Glad our money has been well spent.'

The open day included tours of the hospital and its brand-new facilities and provided the local community with a glimpse of how the hospital works on a normal day. Families were able to see inside an ambulance and children enjoyed the face painting and balloon animals, and of course the sausage sizzle, as always, was a big hit with the community.

The completion of the works at Noarlunga also includes the new and improved renal dialysis unit, as well as a new dedicated space for children in the emergency department, which is very important in making young children feel comfortable when they are receiving treatment and protecting them from the sometimes confronting sights that can be seen in the adult emergency department space. The new paediatric space is part of Noarlunga's community emergency department, which will continue to be staffed by doctors and nurses and provide emergency care to the local community, including paediatric emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mental health inpatient services for the southern suburbs will continue to be provided at Noarlunga Hospital, and the hospital will continue to provide outpatient services as well as subacute inpatient services, with a focus on older people. An increase in chairs in Noarlunga Hospital's day infusion suite is planned, from three to nine chairs, ensuring more cancer treatment for southern suburbs residents closer to home. Some members of the local community have expressed relief, and in fact pleasant surprise, to learn that not only is Noarlunga Hospital and its emergency department open for business but that it has been significantly upgraded.

Indeed, last Saturday's open day showed them that the dangerous and irresponsible comments made by some members of this place and some others in our community are just not true. These people should stop spreading misinformation that could put members of our southern community at risk. Noarlunga Hospital will continue to provide modern and world-class health care, and the people of the southern suburbs can be confident that they will continue to receive the care they deserve.

The SPEAKER: I call the Minister for Health to order for that straying into debate at the end of the answer, which of course is the best place to do it.