SA Pathology

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:23): Supplementary: what guarantees can the minister give that the efficiencies sought won't result in an overall reduction in servicing and what steps are you putting in place to make sure that doesn't happen?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:24): Sorry: was it a reduction in services?

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: Services.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The whole goal is to deliver services to our patients. My understanding is that 70 per cent of health diagnoses are supported by accessing pathology. You can be sure that South Australian hospitals will continue to use pathology services. We have put efficiency targets in for SA Pathology, no different to the previous government. We are determined to make sure that we have quality, safe services for SA Health's public patients, and I have no doubt that we will continue to purchase pathology services. It may well be, as I said, that if the efficiencies can't be achieved within SA Pathology, local boards will be given the opportunity to source from alternative providers, but they still need to get the services. SA Health services will continue to need pathology services.