Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:37): I rise today to share with the chamber the good news that the Western Hospital will continue to operate after having been sold on 1 November. The continued operation of the hospital and the continued services being provided within our local community is the good news that so many have been wanting to hear. The hospital was sold on 1 November to Amplar Health, a subsidiary of Medibank Private.

My office has certainly been inundated with communications from local residents over the past week or so expressing their happiness and also a level of relief that this news has finally come through. It is in no small part thanks to the 23,000-plus people who signed the community petition to help ensure the future of the Western Hospital.

We know, and every local knows the importance of the services that are delivered there to both the local community and more broadly across the whole of South Australia. To Angelo Piovessen, Colleen Billows and the many other community advocates who spearheaded this movement and the 23,000-plus signature petition, well done for everything you have done. The Western Hospital has been a vital and much-loved part of our community for many, many years, and long may that continue.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (15:39): I rise to acknowledge an outstanding member of the Somerton Surf Life Saving Club. Robert 'Bob' Hood was recognised at the State Emergency Services Medal and commendation ceremony earlier this year. Bob's contribution to surf lifesaving has been profound, dedicating nearly 60 years to Somerton and state. During this time he has completed over 2,000 volunteer service hours, eight seasons with the Jet Rescue Boat Service and five seasons in the radio service that all clubbies would know as Surfcom.

Bob has also held leadership roles such as vice president, club captain and currently as 'the maintenance guy' and unofficial historian. Bob's dedication and pride in his role in surf lifesaving, and more importantly at Somerton, are a testament to his character. Bob is a deserving recipient of this award and he is a supporter of a club at Somerton that is such a welcoming community club, a place where people care about each other, and a wonderful place for both young people and older people to engage in leadership positions and do everything they can to support our community and, most importantly, keep our community safe out on the water and on our beaches.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:40): Did you know Christmas is only 43 days away and the Riverland Christmas Appeal is up and running. For many Riverland and Mallee farmers Christmas is a challenging time, but every year the Riverland Christmas Appeal generously gives food and toy hampers to 1,000 Riverlanders who are doing it tough.

The first Christmas appeal back in 1986 provided hampers for 50 families. Sadly, last year the appeal provided 565 hampers and toys for 429 children. The high cost of living and recent challenges with floods, drought and frost, all in the region, mean that there will be many who will be a need of a little bit of extra help this year.

It would not happen without the amazing volunteers; it would not happen without the amazing local service groups that are there to support a very important cause. The way that the Riverland community unites and comes together never ceases to amaze me. I do want to pay special tribute to the Riverland Christmas Appeal coordinator Carolyn Triponoff and her band of volunteers. They do an amazing job—and Carolyn, I will be there again this year packing boxes, filling up hampers and making sure that those people who are in need are given a little bit of a hand up and making sure that the Christmas appeal is successful in 2024.

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:42): We had a rather scary situation at the Yorketown Hospital some 10 days ago. In the early hours of Saturday 2 November, a patient was able to access knives from an unsecured area in the hospital and run around the hospital unimpeded while two nurses locked themselves into a safe area in the hospital in order to barricade themselves from this person that had managed to secure the knives.

It was a tremendously scary situation, something that the staff had been worrying about occurring for a little while. As a chair of the wi-fi hack, they approached us some months ago and requested an upgrade to the security system. We were of the view—and I believe quite rightly—that it is very much a job for the employer to provide a safe workplace, and we urged them and wrote to the local health network to provide the extra security so that the nurses would feel safe. That has not yet happened, unfortunately, but I believe it is in train now and there were people there last week to investigate how that could be implemented. This recent incident has just brought to light how important it is.

I have reached out to the DON and offered any support I can give. I am especially glad that both nurses are okay. I know that they are traumatised, but I am especially glad that they are both physically okay. I hope that the new security measures can be implemented sooner rather than later. It just really brings to light the complexities facing regional hospitals and demonstrates the importance of having them properly funded and capable so that they can treat patients and look after their own staff. I am glad everyone is okay and I look forward to seeing those new security features installed ASAP, and here is to a better regional health system.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Brown): The member's time has expired.