Motions

SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging

Adjourned debate on motion of E.S. Bourke:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into and report on SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging, with particular reference to—

(a) the importance of high standards of safety and quality in the provision of pathology and imaging services;

(b) the importance of timeliness in the provision of pathology and imaging services and the impact of delayed results on patient outcomes and the broader South Australian health system;

(c) the importance of South Australian-based research and teaching associated with pathology and imaging services;

(d) the importance of access to pathology and medical imaging services in primary health, including the role of SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging in ensuring accessibility of health care and the provision of bulk-billed services;

(e) staff workloads within SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging and the impact of unsafe workloads on staff health and wellbeing and the quality of service provided;

(f) the impact of the 2018 state budget in regard to SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging, including the impact on staff, the quality of service provision, patient outcomes, teaching and research;

(g) the effects of potential privatisation of SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging as foreshadowed in the 2018 state budget, including the impact on staff, the quality of service provision, patient outcomes, teaching and research; and

(h) any other related matters.

2. That standing order 389 be so far suspended as to enable the Chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote only.

3. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.

4. That standing order 396 be suspended to enable strangers to be admitted when the select committee is examining witnesses unless the committee otherwise resolves, but they shall be excluded when the committee is deliberating.

(Continued from 7 November 2018.)

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (16:43): I intend to speak briefly on this motion and indicate, on behalf of the government, that we will be supporting it. In doing so, I would like to move two separate amendments. The first has already been distributed in my name and it relates to adding three additional subparagraphs to the terms of reference. The amendment, which has been distributed in my name, proposes a new (ea) which refers to the former Labor government's efficiency improvement program.

That was an SA Pathology efficiency initiative in the last term of government and it would significantly address a similar issue as to what is being considered by the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. It makes sense, as we did in relation to the Hon. Connie Bonaros's motion, that if we are looking forward to efficiencies in SA Pathology that we understand what we have learnt from the past.

I think one thing we have learned from the Labor government's efficiency improvement program is the importance of transparency. A major problem in the implementation of those efficiency reforms was a lack of agreement on the terms of the agreed set of facts, and that was significantly related to the fact that the consultants did not provide access to the data that they based their conclusions on. I am very keen that the next process of review does include transparency.

The second item, (eb), relates to the former Labor government's EPLIS program. Members would be aware from problems, particularly in the last 18 months, that the rollout of EPLIS was both a stress on staff and had negative patient outcomes. The third reference is (ec), the outsourcing of medical imaging in South Australia in the past. Considering this committee will be looking at both SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging, it makes sense to get a better understanding of the impact of outsourcing. My understanding is that there are currently 14 country hospitals and a number of metropolitan services that outsource medical imaging services. I will move the amendments standing in my name.

I would also move that the committee consist of six members and that the quorum of members necessary to be present at all meetings of the committee be fixed at four members, and that standing order 389 be so far suspended as to enable the chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote. I do acknowledge that the mover has appropriately consulted with parliamentary groups. There were four non-government members who indicated an interest in being involved, and the government initially suggested that it did not seek a second.

Following further discussions, the government would like to have two members, which is consistent with convention. It is also only asking for as many government members as there are opposition members, so we would suggest, therefore, that none of the four non-government members who have already been agreed to be members would be excluded. We propose accommodation for the maintenance of the government's entitlement to equal rights with the opposition, that we have six members of this committee, and I will move the amendment accordingly.

The PRESIDENT: Due to a technical matter, those two motions will be moved by the Hon. Mr Stephens.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (16:48): I move:

Leave out paragraph 2 and insert new paragraph as follows:

2. That the committee consist of six members and that the quorum of members necessary to be present at all meetings of the committee be fixed at four members, and that standing order 389 be so far suspended as to enable the chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote only.

I will also move the amendment that is being circulated. I move:

After paragraph (e) insert new paragraphs (ea), (eb) and (ec) as follows—

(ea) The former Labor government's efficiency improvement program, including the access to data, potential and actual impact on staff, the quality of service provision, patient outcomes, teaching and research;

(eb) The former Labor government’s Enterprise Pathology Laboratory Information System and its implementation, including the impact on staff, the quality of service provision, patient outcomes, teaching and research; and

(ec) The outsourcing of medical imaging in South Australia in the past.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (16:50): I rise on behalf of the Greens to support this select committee inquiry that has been put before this place by the Hon. Emily Bourke. Indeed, I think the Hon. Emily Bourke probably thought this would be a far more straightforward matter than it was. Had she had my experience during the election, particularly of meeting with Professionals Australia and the SA Pathology workers and seeing the extraordinary and extreme pressures that they are under but indeed the valuable and vital work that they do, she would certainly have shared my belief that we would all be getting on with this inquiry much earlier than we had.

I note that this inquiry has previously been attempted to be brought to a vote before this place but has been deferred a few times now. We have received some amendments from the government on it today, and the Greens will be happy to support the content of those amendments, but I indicate that I will move an amendment. I move:

That the quorum of members necessary to be present at all meetings of the committee be fixed at three members.

I note that the government has just added an extra government member to this committee, which is now six members. Should the two government members choose not to attend it would require all members who are non-government to turn up to reach quorum. I do not think that is a satisfactory position. As we know, committee work is work that we take quite seriously, but we cannot be in two places at the same time, and many of us are very busy, so it is often hard to reach quorum with some of our committees.

I think four for quorum is far too great a burden to place on this particular committee, which seeks to do its work rapidly, given that this is quite a live issue of a government consideration of changing policies which may have a profound implication. I reiterate that I am moving that the quorum be three members not four. I also note that I am very keen to serve on this committee and again applaud the work of those people who work in this sector and the very important work they do.

I note that the government has issued what I would call quite a late amendment, has previously sought to fold this committee into another committee and has now, today, added an additional government member to the committee. So I put on record that I have just sought an assurance in this place from the Minister for Health and Wellbeing that the Hon. Emily Bourke, who has instituted and instigated this particular motion before us, will be the chair of this committee.

That is what the Greens will be supporting when it gets to the stage of the rubber hitting the road—the vote for who chairs this committee—and I seek an assurance from government members that they will hold true to that promise that has just been made. With those few words, I commend the motion.