Private Hospital Admissions

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Health, questions relating to the use of private hospitals.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: I was recently contacted by a constituent who raised issues of public hospital patients being admitted into a private hospital. I was advised that, due to a lack of beds, public patients were being admitted to private hospitals, with the government paying the private hospitals for these admissions. Can the minister advise if this practice occurs and, if so, can the minister advise how many cases in the past year this has occurred and the total cost to the government?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:01): I thank the Hon. John Darley for his most important question directed to the Minister for Health in the other place. I undertake to take that question to the Minister for Health and bring back a response on his behalf.