Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Hospital Beds Hospital Beds The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Hospital Beds The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister open resources in our hospitals, including reopening the 41 beds that he closed in December and the 20 beds in the Cassia Ward, to ensure that the kind of extreme ramping we have seen in recent months does not continue? The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council Minister for Health and Wellbeing Hospital Beds The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:04): The honourable member raises the issue of the Cassia Ward. Ensuring that patients receive the best care is always the top priority of the Marshall Liberal government. Both the Cassia Ward and the medical Short Stay Ward at the Women's and Children's Hospital currently remain amalgamated. That amalgamation occurs every summer and coincides with what is usually a reduced demand in activity over this period. As I said, both wards remain amalgamated; however, I can assure the council that this is assessed on a daily basis and if a need is identified for Cassia Ward to be reopened then this can happen at any time across all shifts.