Royal Adelaide Hospital

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Health a question about the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Members would have seen that The Advertiser reported, on Saturday 25 July this year, that the Minister for Health has reneged on a pledge that all services currently offered at the RAH would be transferred to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. The Royal Adelaide Hospital, as it currently stands, offers over 70 outpatient services, such as dietetics, general weight lost provisions, drug and alcohol services, sleep disorders and women's health services. I have been contacted by a concerned constituent who has raised this issue with the minister in relation to the future location of these clinics, if not at the RAH, and I would like to follow-up on his behalf. My questions are:

1. Will the same outpatient clinics that are currently based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital be transferred over to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital?

2. If not, what, if any, clinics will be transferred and where will the other clinics be located?

3. Is it anticipated that the new Royal Adelaide Hospital will be conducting laparoscopic surgery?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I should say at the outset that I reject the unfounded opinion inherent in the honourable member's explanation. However, in regard to the three questions he has asked, I undertake to bring them to the attention of the Minister for Health in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.