Elective Surgery, Private Providers

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:02): Supplementary: do the contracts with the private hospitals include any requirements for nurse-patient ratios for public hospital patients? If not, why not?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:02): My understanding is that the enterprise agreement under which those ratios are placed are specific to the public sector. Providers to be placed on the panel are all required to be nationally accredited and licensed. The panel will be overseen by SA Health to ensure high quality and also ensure the buying power of taxpayers' investment.