Modbury Hospital

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:54): Supplementary: the minister mentioned that there had been a 32 per cent increase in elective surgery at Modbury. Could the minister indicate what proportion of that 32 per cent is a net increase in activity and what proportion is a relocation of elective surgery activity from Lyell McEwin and other hospitals?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:54): Improving elective surgery waiting times has been at the heart of our modernisation of the South Australian health system. The 32 per cent increase is a real number. I mentioned 32 per cent. If I put a bit more context around that, my advice is that that represents around about 800 or 850 extra elective surgeries that have taken place at Modbury over the last 12 months. That is a huge number. That is 850 real people whose standard of living has dramatically improved as a consequence of the changes that we have made.

In terms of the specific numbers that the Hon. Mr Wade is looking for, I am happy to take those on notice. This is what we have done around elective surgery, which I think, particularly in a Modbury context, is an achievement. It is worthy of commendation. I am certainly not seeking to take credit for it, but I do think decisions on behalf of my predecessor, I do think the hard work of those people on the ground who have implemented some changes and are actually doing these surgeries, they certainly deserve the credit. They deserve to be recognised and commended for what is a substantial achievement.