Modbury Hospital

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding hospitals.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: This week the minister tabled an answer to a question regarding the Modbury Hospital high dependency unit. The minister's answer is as follows:

I can confirm I received advice from SA Health indicating in the absence of establishing a new intensive care unit at Modbury Hospital, appropriate levels of clinical safety may not be achieved with the establishment of a stand-alone high dependency unit.

Yet, in answer to a question asked of the minister in this place on 17 May this year about whether any safety concerns had been raised by officers within his department, the minister responded:

I am not aware of any specific concerns being raised.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Will the minister now admit he has misled parliament?

2. Will the minister explain why he has answered the same question in two very different ways?

3. On what date was the minister advised of the specific concerns that appropriate levels of clinical safety may not be achieved with the establishment of a stand-alone high dependency unit at the Modbury Hospital?

4. If the minister received this in an incoming government briefing, what other advice has he received from his department that his plan may not be safe?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:13): My recollection of my answer on 17 May—I am taking the date from you, but I do remember mentioning the phrase 'specific concerns'—and my understanding of that question was 'specific concerns'; in other words, did I receive a list of specific clinical risks that might eventuate from the establishment of a HDU at the time the incoming brief was written. I am not aware of any list of specific clinical risks that were raised in my incoming brief.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, please do not give ongoing commentary. I would like to listen to the minister. Is the minister finished?

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yes.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I do not need your advice, Leader of the Opposition. The Hon. Mr Stephens, please let's have your question.