Elective Surgery

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:56): Supplementary question: given that the minister, on the basis of the figures that he has been provided, doesn't believe that the planned reduction activity for the NRAH move led to the blowout from 174 to 1,000 overdues in three months, can the minister tell us what is the reason for that impact. In particular, is he able to give us figures for the cancelled elective surgery as part of the normal winter reduction, and the cancellation or postponement of elective surgery as part of minister Snelling's hospital emergency plan, which he released five days before he resigned?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:57): As I have said repeatedly in the last couple of days, we have seen an extraordinary flu season take place in South Australia, along with other states around the country. What the honourable member needs to understand, as I am sure he does, is that elective surgeries will be adjusted where there are major influxes into the system. We have seen this extraordinary spike in emergency department presentations. On one particular day, for example, on 11 September, SA Ambulance saw a massive increase in demand with up to 49 per cent more 000 calls in comparison with the same day last year.

They are big numbers, so of course when we see in our system an extraordinary spike in ED presentations and then the patient flow through the hospital system takes place on the back of that, there will need to be adjustments to elective surgery, so it isn't because of the NRAH move. I recited the statistic in respect to the deliberate, planned ramp down of elective surgery, so for the honourable member to suggest that this is because of the NRAH move is based upon a poor understanding of how the health system works.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I rise on a point of order: I ask why you are not abiding by standing order 204 with regard to refusing to rule on my point of order on standing order 167?

The PRESIDENT: Look, you might not think question time is an important time of day; I do. I will look at the standing orders you are quoting to me and I will give you an answer at the next session.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I then indicate that I will invoke standing order 205 and move a motion requiring you to abide by standing orders if you don't rule when people raise points of order.

The PRESIDENT: Are you fair dinkum?

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: You are meant to rule on points of order and as you—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Gago.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: —alluded to, we can then—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Gago.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: —either accept them or—

The PRESIDENT: Sit down.