RURAL WOMEN'S HEALTH

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about rural women's health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: On 22 June, Jean Hailes and the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia presented an event, entitled 'The time of your life: things every women should know!', for the women of South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. From this event, it was noted that a lack of information and access to services could be having an effect on women's health. Ms Louise Browne, Project Manager for Jean Hailes for Women's Health, said on ABC radio that:

...finding specialist services can sometimes be a struggle in the regions...The limited access to health professionals does make a difference and if you don't necessarily develop a good rapport with the local health professional, then that's a disadvantage too.

Ms Browne goes on to say:

...it's not that they're lacking information, but they don't have the opportunities.

It was recorded that 350 women attended the 'Time of your life' event, indicating that rural women want more information; they want to learn more about their health. It is interesting that the minister has earlier talked about her involvement with women in the community, so my questions are:

1. Over the last year or so, how many information sessions has the state government conducted with regard to targeting health issues for women living in regional South Australia?

2. With women in the region stating that 'they don't have the opportunities', does the minister believe this is another sign of the government forgetting about the state's regions?

3. As the Minister for the Status of Women, what advocacy has the minister undertaken with the minister for health to ensure that sufficient health programs and information sessions are provided to rural women?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for her important questions. Obviously these issues are largely the responsibility of the minister for health but, nevertheless, there are some things that I would certainly like to comment on. This government has invested significant funds in the country to ensure that people living in the regions are able to receive health care close to their homes and in modern facilities.

Compared with the last year of the Liberal government, spending on country public health services increased by $339.5 million—an 89.3 per cent increase in spending—so we can stand very proud of what we do. Although I know that meeting all individual needs of people living in the country is very difficult, and it is a challenge, nevertheless this government has gone a long way and certainly much further than the former Liberal government in doing that.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The truth hurts, doesn't it? The 2011-12 budget committed something like $719.8 million to public health services in the country and I am advised that this spending will provide for things like: increased haemodialysis chairs in rural areas; an increase in elective surgery and chemotherapy provided in the country, increasing procedures by over 3,444 over current levels; and $22 million funding over four years to improve and expand health services in country communities, in addition to major developments of hospitals at Berri, Ceduna and Whyalla.

Of this $22 million, I am advised that, at least for 2011-12, $1.768 million has been allocated for minor works, such as upgrades to accident and emergency departments at places like Cummins, Mannum, Victor Harbor, Meningie, high-voltage switch replacements at Port Pirie and a range of other minor works as well. In addition, $1.459 million has been allocated to purchase biomedical equipment, and that included anaesthetic machines for Port Pirie, Gawler and Mount Barker, monitoring systems for Port Pirie and Gawler, and a wide range of other biomedical equipment as well.

This government is also funding dedicated mental health beds in areas of country South Australia. For the first time we have opened intermediate mental health care facilities out into the country; that has never been done before. These facilities include the new acute mental health beds that are located at Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Berri and Mount Gambier. As I said, in country South Australia intermediate care services are being established for the very first time to enable services to be provided closer to where people actually live.

Both facility and non-facility based services are planned, with non-facility places now available in Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. South Australia will also benefit from the commonwealth government's recent announcement of nearly 159 beds and places for our state's mental health system, a huge additional boost to our mental health system that includes a 10-bed community rehabilitation centre to be established at Whyalla and Mount Gambier. These centres will be similar to those already operating in metropolitan Adelaide. I could go through the details of other beds and placements, the wide range of activity that this government has undertaken for regional South Australians.