SA Ambulance Service

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Why did the minister wait three months to tell the South Australian public about 17 adverse incidents, including a cluster of nine people who died unnecessarily following adverse incidents involving ambulance calls, and when was the minister first informed about this cluster of deaths?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:40): In terms of the last question, I was briefed in December 2018. Regarding the question why did I wait three months, following an unexplained cluster of adverse incidents in late 2018, the Ambulance Service acted swiftly in November 2018 to assess each case and determine whether there were any common or systemic factors involved.

The cases raised issues of clinical management of patients, and the Ambulance Service decided to commission an independent review. Parallel to that, the Ambulance Service took immediate action to deal with the concerns of the service to improve clinical management. I welcome the fact that the Ambulance Service took this act. It is the first systemic review that I am aware of.

For last year, the calendar year 2018, we have confirmed 12 adverse incidents at this stage. That compares with previous years. The last four years, for example, had an average of 15 adverse clinical incidents a year. In 2015, there were actually 28. That was under the former Labor government. I am not aware of whether there was a systemic review done then. I have asked the Ambulance Service whether that is the case. I am not aware of one. Certainly, it has not been released. I think it's commendable that the Ambulance Service, under the leadership of David Place, is making sure that it does whatever it can to maintain the quality of patient care.