Question Time

Cancer Diagnosis Error

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing:

1. What date was the minister first personally informed about the bungled cancer diagnosis of Mr Claus Burg?

2. What date was the minister's office first informed of the bungled cancer diagnosis of Mr Claus Burg?

3. What date did the minister request the Central Adelaide Local Health Network to begin an investigation into the bungled cancer diagnosis of Mr Claus Burg?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:23): I thank the honourable member for his question. In relation to the detail, I will take it on notice and get back to the honourable member.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: A point of order, Mr President: I wonder if there are standing orders about having mobile devices attached to your person.

The PRESIDENT: I haven't been observing the minister's ear. Minister, just go on with the answer.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I would like to take the opportunity, though, to offer my apologies to Mr Burg on behalf of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network. I am advised that the Central Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive officer wrote to Mr Burg on 6 June 2019 expressing her regret and to pass on the sincere apologies of her staff. I am advised that as soon as she was made aware of Mr Burg's situation, the CEO asked senior SA Medical Imaging and TQEH medical oncology staff to investigate Mr Burg's situation. That investigation found that Mr Burg's cancer could have been diagnosed sooner.

I understand that senior staff have also offered to meet with Mr Burg personally to discuss further findings from the investigation and staff will continue to follow up with Mr Burg on this. The findings have been shared amongst all SA Medical Imaging radiologists, stressing the importance of being alert to significant or unexpected findings in any medical scans.