Patient Transfers

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Does the minister think it's appropriate for patients to be transferred between hospitals by taxis after undergoing major surgery? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mrs HURN: On FIVEaa radio this morning, it was reported that an elderly man was transferred by a taxi from Royal Adelaide Hospital to Modbury Hospital last week only around a week after undergoing brain surgery to remove a brain tumour. The patient was struggling to walk and was in a wheelchair at the time.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:49): Well, I back our doctors and nurses in terms of the decisions that they make in relation to patient care, in relation to making sure that our patients are well supported in our hospitals. That's very different to the shadow minister, who time after time attacks our doctors and nurses in the decisions that they make.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley, you wouldn't want the students of Concordia seeing you evicted until the end of question time. He is usually very well behaved. Maybe he skipped lunch to take you on the tour, but the member for Unley is one of the better performers in here, very well mannered, usually. Back to you, the Minister for Health.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: We've got the shadow minister for health questioning the decisions that our doctors and nurses are undertaking, not raising issues with the government beforehand, no letter to us beforehand—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —asking for this case to be looked into.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will come to order! The member for Flinders will leave the chamber until the end of question time.

The honourable member for Flinders having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I certainly, as the health minister, will back our doctors and nurses in terms of the decisions that they make around the care of our patients in our system.