Health and Hospital Care

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:14): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on what action the government is taking to improve our public health system and the challenges it is currently facing?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey and the member for Playford are called to order. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:14): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Can I congratulate the member for King, the member for Newland and the member for Florey on their strong advocacy for improved health services in South Australia, especially as they relate to Modbury Hospital.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It's fair to say that the opposition claims a lot of responsibility for upgrades at Modbury Hospital. Let's run through them: they promised eye surgery at Modbury Hospital. Did that occur? There are lots and lots of promises. I think three times they said they were going to upgrade the emergency department out there. Did that ever happen?

I will tell you what happened under Labor's watch: services were continually downgraded, not only at Modbury Hospital but Noarlunga, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —they closed the Repat and they had on the books the closure of two other hospitals in South Australia, so we won't be taking any lessons from the opposition regarding what we should be doing in regard to upgrading health care in South Australia. I acknowledge that some people in this chamber do care about what happens out at Modbury: we on the treasury bench care deeply. We are informed by our members for King and Newland, who were elected by the electors of King and Newland to represent them because they wanted better services at Modbury Hospital.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They also rejected Labor's candidate in Florey because they didn't think—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —those opposite did a very good job at Modbury.

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, deputy leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: In fact, what they wanted was—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kaurna!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the upgrading of services at Modbury Hospital. In fact, what we found under Labor was the transfer of complex surgery, transferred from Modbury out to the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will be quiet!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As I was saying, those opposite, when they were in government during that very sorry period in our state's history—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order. The point of order is for debate.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: When the Premier says, 'When the members opposite were in office,' it is debate.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. The Premier has been asked about an update to the healthcare system. He may, in that preamble, speak about matters that occurred before this government's tenure. However, I will be listening carefully. There was a cacophony of noise during the Premier's answer. It's a long list that I will be getting to at the end of the Premier's answer. I ask that he be heard in silence for the remainder of his time. I will be listening carefully to ensure he doesn't partake in debate. Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you, sir. As you would be aware, there was a policy under the previous government—this is not argument; this is just a statement of fact—that there was a transfer of complex surgeries from Modbury Hospital to the Lyell McEwin Hospital. This is not a point of argument; it's a statement of fact. We also note that emergency surgery was withdrawn from Modbury Hospital under the previous government. We also know that the high dependency unit was closed at Modbury Hospital.

What we are trying to do is restore services at Modbury Hospital. I am very pleased to update the parliament today that we have now restored elective surgery for patients with more complex needs to Modbury Hospital. Under the previous government, this went down to just 24—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader will not interject. I am listening to the Premier's answer.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It's almost impossible to believe—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —they are now responsible for the services that the government is restoring that they got rid off. You couldn't script this. Anyway—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the reality is that we have now restored elective surgery, more complex elective surgery, which requires hospitalisation beyond 24 hours; in fact, we have extended up to 72 hours. This will allow—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —far more complex elective surgery to be done at that hospital, which is what the people want, and it will also reduce the waiting times for elective surgery at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

The SPEAKER: The Premier's time has expired. Member for Kaurna, please be seated. This is a long list. I call to order the following members: the members for Reynell, Florey, Kaurna, Playford, Badcoe; the member for Waite, the deputy leader, the Deputy Premier, the member for Badcoe, the member for Hurtle Vale and the Minister for Education. I warn for a first time the member for Playford, the member for Badcoe, the member for Waite and the member for Kaurna. I warn for a second and final time the member for Badcoe. The member for Kaurna has the call.