Port Pirie Regional Health Service

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister update my community on the recent incidents at the Port Pirie regional hospital? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain a bit further.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Recently, there have been reports of a young woman having serious results from a caesarean birth and, yesterday, a security officer having safety concerns about an incident at the hospital.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:31): I thank the member for Stuart for his question and note his very strong interest in health in his electorate and, obviously, the Port Pirie hospital. It's obviously a hospital that the government is investing significantly in, currently building a new emergency department to serve the community.

As the member has referred to, there have been reports in terms of a violent incident that occurred in that emergency department. The first thing to say is that any violence against our healthcare workers is completely abhorrent and I hope is treated in terms of the full force of the law. Of course, parliament has passed special legislation enshrining that healthcare workers have a disproportionate protection in terms of the penalties imposed in terms of any assaults on those healthcare workers.

Since coming to government, of course, we have extended security across a number of our hospitals, including Port Pirie, as well as, additionally, the Wallaroo, Mount Barker, Mount Gambier, Berri, Murray Bridge and Port Lincoln hospitals all now having additional security in place.

In relation to this specific incident, I am advised that there was a consumer brought to the emergency department who was subsequently placed on an involuntary treatment order (ITO). They were admitted to the ward whilst waiting for a transfer to an inpatient mental health unit, and a patient minder was allocated to the consumer, located outside the consumer's room. The consumer left the room they were allocated to and became aggressive towards that patient minder. Security, medical, nursing and SAPOL attended the ward and assisted with restraining the consumer. This consumer was then reviewed by the doctor and psychiatrist, and a transfer was arranged by the RFDS to the metropolitan inpatient mental health services.

The staff member was provided with support by the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network, and the local management undertook necessary debriefs. Following the incident, the affected staff member and team members were debriefed and the incident was logged. The worker, I understand, has returned to work. Obviously, we are very sorry that occurred to that worker. We would never want that to happen to any of our healthcare workers in our hospitals, and obviously what happened was completely abhorrent.

In relation to the second matter that the member raised, in relation to a constituent, I understand, who has raised concerns in relation to her birth, I have sought some advice on this in terms of the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network. Firstly, we acknowledge, in terms of the concern, that was a distressing birth that the consumer experienced, resulting in an emergency C-section which required a transfer to Adelaide for specialist care and further surgery. Welcoming a new baby into the world of course should be a time for celebration, and obviously it is very regrettable to have anybody have a difficult experience at that time.

Port Pirie hospital is a level 3 birthing service, with a birthing suite serviced by general practice obstetricians, employed specialist obstetricians and Midwifery Group Practice midwives who provide care and treatment before, during and after childbirth. Should a patient experience complications, and their condition deteriorates to the extent of beyond the safety threshold for that particular level 3 birthing service, then advice is sought from the tertiary centres in Adelaide that have a high capacity to provide that level of care. As with any surgery, risk can occur when an emergency caesarean is performed, and these risks are explained, of course, before a surgery.

I am advised that, in this instance, treatment and recovery in Adelaide were clinically recommended and, of course, the best course of action was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both the mother and child. Of course, if the patient has any further concerns, we are very happy to talk to her and follow that up with the clinicians and make sure that we learn from the experience that she had to try to improve things for the future.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Waite, I would like to wish her a very happy birthday. I hope you had a wonderful celebration over the weekend, and your birthday present from the chamber is that you get to ask a question.