Hospital Beds

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:32): Thank you, Mr President. Is the minister saying that his message to the 90-year-old woman is that he will order beds to be reopened when they are needed, but she doesn't need them, she doesn't count?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:32): The surge capacity I am referring to is at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network. That patient first and foremost presented at the Flinders Medical Centre. Of course there will need to be initiatives across different networks in the Central Adelaide Local Health Network. Through reductions in average length of stay and other initiatives they are working towards freeing up stand-by beds.

In terms of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, there were capacity issues there. That's exactly why the Marshall Liberal government has secured 50 beds at the Repat site. We have opened 50 beds. This is the opposition that is hectoring us, but they closed more than 200 beds at the Repat site. We have opened 50 and they are criticising us.