Hospital Beds

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:52): A further supplementary in relation to the original answer that discussed bed closures—

The PRESIDENT: Yes; Leader of the Opposition, ask your question.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Is it the department or is it the government and ministers who make decisions about the opening or closing of hospital beds?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:52): This is a repeat of the question we had the other day. It reminds me of comments of the member for Kaurna—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, it is actually your own question. Let the minister answer your own question, please.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I don't need your commentary, Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The member for Kaurna, whether it is on Twitter or whether it is in his press releases, loves to give advice to clinicians on when to open beds and when to close beds.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, opposition benches! Order! I cannot hear him.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The member for Kaurna, concerned about ramping at our emergency departments, suggested that we should reopen the Cassia Ward. The Cassia Ward is a paediatric ward for children, so his clinical judgement is that the best way to deal with ramping in adult hospitals is to open a long-stay ward for children. I suggest we should heed the clinicians, not the member for Kaurna.