Hospital Beds

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:05): Supplementary: in addition to not reopening those two mentioned wards why has the minister kept beds, previously called flex beds, closed at Hampstead and Flinders, despite the unprecedented ramping that we're seeing in the health system?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:05): The honourable member is contributing to the mountain of misinformation that the Labor Party tries to generate. In terms of the Christmas flex down beds, generally they have been opened; they are generally opened in January. If we're talking about bed closures, let's look at Labor's record. In September 2017, they caused a net loss of 100 beds at the Repat. When they closed the Oakden facility there was a net loss of 45 beds. That's more than 145 beds that are lost to the system.

This government, for its part, opened 20 new beds at the Repat health precinct. It's not a hospital because Labor closed the hospital they would 'never, ever close'. We opened 20 additional beds at the Repat and have secured 20 beds that were otherwise scheduled to close. So I think the Labor Party has got a gall talking to us about beds.