Flinders Medical Centre Upgrade

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:43): I rise today to congratulate the Premier, together with the former health minister (member for Playford) and minister Malinauskas, on the new state-of-the-art health facilities at the Flinders Medical Centre. I also wish to thank the many residents and health workers who have contributed to the planning and implementation through the provision of objective and always useful and thoughtful feedback and questions throughout the delivery of this facility upgrade.

I visited the site several times, but last Sunday I was able to see a nearly ready for use state-of-the-art facility as well as being able to use the enormous car park. Many residents of my electorate, and indeed the southern suburbs more broadly, utilise the Flinders Medical Centre, and I am thrilled to be part of a government that has delivered better facilities and improved services on their behalf. The Weatherill government has invested more than $185 million in Flinders Medical Centre to improve patient outcomes and deliver an overall improvement in the health of local residents.

The new facilities include a 55-bed rehabilitation centre; a 15-bed palliative care facility, including a panoramic rooftop garden; as well as a 30-bed older persons mental health unit. The rehabilitation centre will include a state-of-the-art gymnasium and a new and improved hydrotherapy pool, as well as robotic equipment and aids. Patient family and friends from the palliative care ward will enjoy access to the panoramic rooftop garden, and a beautiful view of the coast and a breeze on their faces will be supremely therapeutic. This is in conjunction with all 15 beds enjoying the privacy of individual rooms and bathrooms, providing improved privacy for patients as seen in the design of our new Royal Adelaide Hospital—another milestone achievement of this Weatherill Labor government.

A palliative care consumer who lost her father at the Daw House Hospice was glowing in her reports of the care delivered when her father was a patient, but so grateful for future clients, who will now have complete privacy with their own rooms and bathrooms. Of course, all the time I was also thinking of the nurses who make dozens of bed moves every week in the current hospice in order to accommodate the varying needs of the vulnerable palliative care patients. This new facility will make their job so much easier and give time back to the bedside. The 30 single room beds of the older persons mental health unit will also feature private ensuites, expanded research and staff areas, as well as a large, brightly lit garden as the facility's centrepiece.

I know a significant point of contention in my electorate and more broadly certainly has been the access to parking at the Flinders Medical Centre. I am happy to report that the new 1,820-space car park has already opened, and it may be good that we now have a space agency planned because I am sure you can see the car park from space as it is so enormous.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Or space from the car park.

Ms COOK: Correct. This car park adds 1,260 more parking spaces than already exist and it will ensure sufficient capacity for new and improved services now being offered at the Flinders Medical Centre. It will also reduce the dreaded parking crunch when visiting loved ones in peak periods. I felt as if I have been operating as the minister for car parking in the past two to three years, and I am so happy with the results of both my lobbying and that of the member for Elder on behalf of our constituents and our friends and colleagues.

Mr Duluk: I notice the local member didn't get an invite to the opening.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

Ms COOK: The member for Davenport needs to listen and give the facts to his constituents.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, I am in charge. Just keep going with your speech.

Ms COOK: I am extremely proud of these new facilities. As many in this place and beyond know, I have worked at the Flinders Medical Centre as an ICU registered nurse and after-hours coordinator over 12 years, along with 16 years in other parts of the health sector, and I always have informed my contributions in this place with this experience. Given my history with FMC, I have been a hardworking and earnest advocate for patients and health professionals who utilise the centre.

Health has played an important role in my life, and I have worked hard in Fisher these past three years as a voice for my community and ensuring developments such as these are given priority. Over this time, I have worked closely with the former minister for health, and I look forward to continuing that relationship with minister Malinauskas well into the future. But it is not just me as the member for Fisher who is singing the praises of the new Flinders Medical Centre facilities.

Indeed, many in our community are welcoming of these Labor initiatives. Sharon told me, 'Oh my God, the car park is amazing.' Sarah says, 'Loving the new car park! Thank you! We are all so lucky to have parking onsite and I really appreciate all the efforts.' Amie says, 'Today I woke up and I was super excited to come to work because of the car park.' The list goes on.

Labor takes the health of all South Australians extremely seriously, and I am proud to be part of a team that has helped deliver these fantastic facilities to help benefit both our hardworking health professionals and the members of our community in need of quality health care. It has been great also to work also with the members for Kaurna, Reynell, Mawson and fellow registered nurse, the member for Elder, fiercely loyal and determined advocates for the South.