Transforming Health

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:06): Supplementary: is the minister satisfied that critical issues, such as access and bed block, have been resolved?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:06): There is always more work to be done, and I don't think there will ever be a health minister who will look on our health system and say, 'There is nothing here to be improved.' It would be a pretty foolish health minister who did that.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Treasurers, however, might have a different point of view. No, there will never be a health minister, I would have thought, who would ever look at our system, as large and complex as it is, and say there's no scope for improvement, but I would also say that we have made significant advances over the last few years. Our hospitals are busier than they have ever been, but our emergency departments are standing up very, very well to an unprecedented number of presentations to all our emergency departments. I would like to thank our doctors, nurses and other health staff, who work extremely hard to make sure that our patients are dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible.