Queen Elizabeth Hospital

In reply to the Hon. J.A. DARLEY (12 April 2016).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change): The Minister for Health has received this advice:

1. Patients undergoing day procedures do not usually need to be admitted overnight to a hospital ward.Nevertheless, patients generally need to be supervised when they are discharged from hospital following a day procedure. Patients who do not have any family or close friends available to supervise them are usually provided accommodation support in a private facility once it has been clinically determined that they are fit to be discharged from hospital. This service forms part of SA Health's metropolitan-wide Hospital and Health Care at Home Service Agreement. The contracted service provider organises the patient's transport and accommodation, as well as ensuring a care worker is available to supervise them. Access is irrespective of age or whether the patient has private health cover or not.

2. In 2014, 706 patients across metropolitan Adelaide accessed this service. In 2015, 780 patients across metropolitan Adelaide accessed this service.

3. The post-procedural accommodation support service, including all transport of the patient, is provided for a set cost of $360.34 per patient. In 2014, this service cost a total of $254,400. In 2015, this service cost a total of $281,065.

4. There is a set cost for the total service, and car costs are inclusive of the total service cost of $360.34 per patient.

5. No. Patients undergoing day procedures do not usually need to be admitted to a hospital ward overnight.

6. This service forms part of a metropolitan-wide hospital avoidance and early supported discharge program.'