Health Care (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 10 March 2016.)

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (17:02): I rise on behalf of the Greens to speak to the Health Care (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2015. This bill seeks to regulate stand-alone private day procedure centres (DPCs) through various licensing arrangements, and sets standards for construction, facilities and equipment. At present, South Australia and the Northern Territory do not regulate stand-alone DPCs.

Examples of these day procedure centres include: plastic surgery; reconstructive and cosmetic surgery; ear, nose and throat surgery; fertility treatment and family planning; dental surgery; renal dialysis; and cardiac treatments. I believe there are some 30 or so stand-alone private day procedure centres in South Australia that have been declared as day hospitals. Currently, the state government issues licences for private hospitals under part 10 of the South Australian Health Care Act 2008. There are currently 27 licensed private hospitals operating across our state.

If a stand-alone private day procedure centre seeks to obtain a provider number, they can do this under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007, a commonwealth act, and SA Health does have an arrangement with the federal Department of Health to undertake an assessment and the inspection processes required. However, as has been indicated to me, the issue is that, beyond this, there is no further monitoring of those private day procedure centres by SA Health.

The absence of a licensing regime applicable to those private day procedure centres does present some health risks, which the government seeks to address with the introduction of this bill. With that, the Greens are convinced of the need for this piece of legislation. The government has informed us that, by licensing stand-alone and private day procedure centres, it will increase the ability for South Australians to access these DPCs, and imposing of the specific licensing conditions will address the potential safety concerns and mitigate risks. However, I do note with that there is not an enormous risk at present as all South Australian DPCs are currently registered with the federal health department and adhere to rigorous standards.

I have some questions arising from the minister's second reading to which I would like a response, because I would imagine that, should this legislation come into effect, it will potentially apply to an organisation known as The Purple House. My specific questions are: what arrangements have been made for this legislation with respect to the potential renal dialysis centre in community on APY lands in Ernabella and whether or not work has progressed between SA Health and the money that is on the table, federally, to ensure that we see in-community renal dialysis in Ernabella? Will we see that very worthwhile project going ahead in time to be captured by this legislation when it passes the parliament? With those few words, I commend the bill.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.M. Gazzola.