McLaren Vale and Districts War Memorial Hospital

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding the McLaren Vale hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: The McLaren Vale hospital is a private hospital with a contract with the government for services, as well as a $500,000 grant recently provided by the government. My question to the minister is: will the minister update the council on the McLaren Vale hospital, including whether any concerns have been raised with him regarding the ongoing viability of the hospital?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:12): Yes, they have. That's why this government engages constructively with the hospital about its future service offering. That's why the Marshall Liberal team, in opposition, committed to investing $500,000 to help the hospital ensure that its facility was well-placed to provide services going forward. That's why the Deputy Premier, the second most senior member of the Marshall Liberal team, joined me—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I thought we were feigning interest in the welfare of the McLaren Vale hospital but apparently the Leader of the Opposition is determined to turn this into a circus again, another circus like we did earlier in question time. If I could at least give the honourable member the benefit of the doubt and continue to answer her question: that is why the Deputy Premier and I actually met with representatives of the board at the McLaren Vale hospital to talk about the changes in health services that are being delivered by the Marshall Liberal government and how the McLaren Vale community hospital may well be able to partner with us.

We have shown, right across the networks, that the Marshall Liberal government is willing to work with non-government partners, private partners, community hospitals, whoever they might be, if they offer a benefit to the public health services of South Australians.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Scriven, a supplementary.