SA Ambulance Service

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (15:01): My question is to the Premier. In relation to the SA Ambulance 'Safety Learning System incident review: ambulance delays' report that was released, what is the Premier's response to the case of a 15-year-old girl who threatened suicide, who waited 12 hours and 47 minutes for an ambulance at the end of last year? With your leave and that of the house, I will explain.

The SPEAKER: Leave is sought. I note that a certain amount of fact might have been introduced prior to leave having been sought. Nevertheless, leave is sought. Is leave granted?

Leave granted.

Mr PICTON: The SA Ambulance report released last month identifies a 15-year-old female whose mother called for help on 9 November 2020. She did not receive an ambulance dispatched to her house for 12 hours and 47 minutes, despite the fact that she was threatening to strangle herself with clothing around her neck. Ambulances were dispatched and diverted on at least two occasions between the initial call at 7.24pm and when the ambulance eventually arrived the next morning at 8.11am.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:02): Every death is a tragedy—the incident the member refers to, no less than that. This is a very serious issue on which the government commissioned a report to shine a light on some of the challenges here, and we are working very hard to address those issues.

The Minister for Health and his entire department and all the staff in SA Health, SA Ambulance, are dedicating their lives to improving this situation. Obviously, in relation to the recommendations in the report, I have taken that question on notice, and I will bring back an answer to the house, as I committed to in relation to the previous question in relation to the responses to those recommendations. But every death is a tragedy and highlights the importance of the work towards the report.