Port Pirie Regional Health Service

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister please advise my community the reason for long waits to have X-rays and ultrasounds at the Port Pirie Regional Health Service, and what will be done to eliminate these extraordinary waiting times? With your leave and that of the house, I will explain, sir.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Recently, there have been numerous constituents—and I mean numerous—coming to my office regarding long waits for up to eight weeks to be able to have X-rays and ultrasounds. In one case, it was 10 weeks and, in actual fact, it was earlier and easier to go to Port Augusta.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:43): I thank the member for Stuart for his question and for his interest and advocacy in terms of health services in his local electorate, particularly the Port Pirie Regional Health Service. Both the X-ray and ultrasound services at Port Pirie are provided by South Australia Medical Imaging, which is a part of SA Health. They also provide CT services in Port Pirie.

I am advised, both in terms of X-rays and ultrasounds, that we are certainly not seeing figures in terms of what the member is referring to, so if the member has constituents who are providing that information to him, then I would be very keen if he can provide that to my office and we are happy to chase up and follow up in terms of their wait. I can provide some specific information in terms of both of those services.

In terms of X-ray services, the advice I have is that we are seeing consistent staffing for that service and that there are, I am advised, no delays for people getting X-rays at the moment. Of course, I am happy to follow up any particular complaints or issues that he has. In relation to ultrasound, my advice is that we have seen a reduction in the wait for ultrasound for outpatient services. It has gone from about six weeks at the start of the year down to four weeks now. There has been additional staffing that we have been able to bring in that has helped to reduce that wait. Of course, we would like to see it go down even further, but it is positive to see that moving in the right direction. Again, I would be happy to speak to him about that.

This is an important time for Port Pirie's hospital as we see imminently the construction and opening of the new emergency department. Having those radiology services provided is important for patients in those emergency situations as well. I am looking forward to seeing that new emergency department open and having more capacity to be able to provide services to people in the Port Pirie region who need those urgent health services in their local community.