Transforming Health

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: SA Health has released information that the gross savings from Transforming Health in 2016-17 were $16.3 million, and that that was $102 million (or 87 per cent) less than the forecast. SA Health has also advised that the government had to spend $33 million to achieve those $16 million savings; that is, they made a net lost of $17 million. My questions to the minister are:

1. Given that SA Health is now $17 million behind the eight ball, what strategies does the minister have to meet the Weatherill government's original savings target of $332 million?

2. What is the financial savings target from the Transforming Health plan for the 2017-18 financial year?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for his important question. It is important to say from the outset that the objective of Transforming Health at its core is about providing a better standard of health care to South Australian citizens. The opposition may have, as its intent in their question, the thought that somehow Transforming Health is all about budget savings. That couldn't be further from the truth. The objective of Transforming Health is to make sure that, within existing resources, we make sure we deliver an outstanding form, a modern form, of health care to South Australians to best represent their interests. That is why the government has been making difficult decisions for a sustained period of time now to achieve those objectives.

A large number of them are already on the record. I mentioned yesterday, for instance, in regard to the north-eastern suburbs, the dramatic increase that has occurred in respect of elective surgery. I might just add that the honourable member asked I think a pertinent and decent supplementary question in respect of the fact: does the increase in elective surgery that occurred at the Modbury Hospital largely reflect the fact that there has been an equal reduction at the Lyell McEwin Hospital?

I am pleased to explain to the chamber—and I think I took it on notice so that there would be a formal process to provide the honourable member with this information—that the Lyell McEwin saw a reduction. In the same period where Modbury saw, I am now advised, up to a 36 per cent increase in elective surgery, the Lyell Mac saw a reduction that was less than 2 per cent. That means that overall across the NALHN health area, we have seen in excess of a 10 per cent increase in elective surgeries that have taken place for the residents of the northern suburbs. That is just one example of where Transforming Health has delivered a better outcome for South Australians.

This was never about the money: it was about providing quality health care to South Australians, and that meant making some tough decisions to achieve it. We don't shy away from tough decisions as a government if we genuinely believe that there is a public policy outcome that will deliver better health care for South Australians. We remain committed to that cause and will continue to make tough decisions if need be to ensure South Australians get the health care that they deserve.