Question Time

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question about information relating to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I have been provided with a copy of an invitation that was distributed, by my understanding, to all the nursing staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and, in this particular case, the day surgery unit. I will read the first couple of paragraphs. It is from the minister, John Hill, and it states:

The state government has announced that today achieves contractual and financial close with the private consortium SA Health Partnership to build South Australia's new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

I will be visiting the RAH on Tuesday, 7 June and Wednesday, 8 June and I would like to invite you to come along to hear more about this project which is the biggest State-funded social infrastructure project in South Australia's history.

The Hon. P. Holloway interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: And that's right: I heard the Hon. Paul Holloway saying, 'This is about consultation.' It continues:

Two information sessions, with opportunity to ask questions, will be held in the Robson Theatre at the following times—

Tuesday, 7 June: 11.10 am to 12 noon

Wednesday, 8 June 10 am to 11 am

Unfortunately, this invitation was delivered to nursing staff on Wednesday 8 June at 12 noon or shortly after—an hour after the last briefing session had finished.

My question to the Leader of the Government, and more importantly to a former South Australian head of the Australian Nurses Federation, is: does she think that it shows appropriate recognition and respect to our hardworking nurses to invite them to a meeting and information session after it had finished?

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister.

The Hon. P. Holloway interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You go and ask them Paul. They are really pissed off.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:22): Thank you, Mr President. I thank—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Go and get sick and see what sort of care you get down there. You go and ask them.

The PRESIDENT: I am sure you will great care down there, the Hon. Mr Ridgway. Minister.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: We will wait until the Hon. Mr Ridgway starts behaving himself.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Collects himself.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: I don't have to collect myself. I know what those people think and feel and they are not very happy with this lot.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Calm down, deep breath.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Stand up, Gail, and tell me if this is what you think is an appropriate way to handle and deal with your former nurses.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The trouble is if he has a heart attack, Mr President; being a former nurse, I'll have to resuscitate him.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister. I think he's finished.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Calm down, calm down.

The PRESIDENT: No, he hasn't finished.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: If I have a heart attack, let me go. I don't want the kiss of life from her, that's for sure. I'm happy to go.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Please calm down; I would hate to be in a position where I would have to resuscitate him.

The PRESIDENT: The minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Stop her. If she comes towards me, stop her, please.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Your life might depend on it: just think about that. There's many a life I've saved, I'll have you know and they didn't mind the kiss of life from me at all, and they still live on this planet because of it. As a former nurse, with the training and education I received, I have to say how grateful I am for that and the contribution that it has allowed me to make to this society. The honourable member would indeed be very lucky to have my assistance in this house in more ways than one.

I was distracted. I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I know that a great deal of clinical consideration has gone into the planning of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. I know that nurses are very pleased about that, as are doctors and other healthcare professionals. There have been months and months—12 months or more—of involvement of very careful clinical consideration, identifying not just the nursing elements of patient care but also medical elements, treatments, transport and catering.

This has required months and months, if not over a year, of very careful consideration by all of the relevant stakeholders, including that of nursing. I know that nurses have been very pleased at the level of consideration of their clinical and professional needs and, of course, the superb opportunities this new facility will offer in terms of clinical elements.

This new hospital will be South Australia's and Australia's most advanced hospital, and it will certainly lead the nation in terms of efficiency in health care for many decades to come. It is a hospital for our future, and nurses, doctors and other key stakeholders know and understand that. I know that the opposition is having trouble with this. They still do not get it; they are still knocking it. They are not able to move on. They are not able to see what a tremendous asset this is to this state and to the future of health care in this state.

I think it is Ms Kaye Challenger who has had a key role in looking at the key components involved in the planning of this. She is a former CEO of the Royal Adelaide Hospital and, I am very pleased to say, a former nurse as well. So, there is very strong nursing and other healthcare professional input, particularly in relation to the clinical components needed for healthcare services to be provided in this wonderful new facility.