Select Committee on Matters Relating to SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:39): I move:

That the interim report of the committee be noted.

SA Pathology staff deserve job security, the South Australian people deserve peace of mind when accessing vital health services, and regional South Australians deserve the same timely access to pathology services as is afforded to their city counterparts. That is why last year I moved to establish the select committee into matters relating to SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging. Yesterday, I tabled that interim report, a report which highlights the importance of this committee and why the vital work of this committee must continue.

Over the course of the committee's life thus far, we have heard from many witnesses, all of whom have repeatedly highlighted and reinforced one message: pathology and medical imaging are essential medical services—essential medical services that need to remain in public hands. That is the common theme coming from witnesses, both from South Australian health professionals and industry bodies, and those who have experienced privatisation of pathology services interstate.

The services provided by SA Pathology are a core element of our functioning health system. SA Pathology is a front-line health service that literally provides the diagnosis to save lives. This very worthwhile committee not only heard evidence from government departments and national medical bodies, but it has given a voice to not-for-profit organisations, many of whom may not have had the opportunity to express their views before.

We have heard witnesses from: Professionals Australia, the Department for Health and Wellbeing, SA Pathology, SA Medical Imaging, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Country Health SA, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, Flinders University, the Health Services Union, and the University of Adelaide.

The people who work at SA Pathology hold a particular skill set. They have immeasurable experience and they are working under a daunting cloud of the possibility of losing their jobs. This does not make for a positive workplace. The disturbing feedback we have heard is that there is bullying behaviour within SA Pathology, including reports of staff struggling with standover tactics. These are findings that cannot and must not be ignored by the minister.

The feedback we have received highlights more than ever why the Marshall Liberal government must abandon its privatisation agenda and finally provide certainty to the SA Pathology workforce. We have received overwhelming feedback from witnesses, especially regional representatives, that the SA government must guarantee the essential health services that SA Pathology provides in regional South Australia. They were asking to be not compromised or diminished at both the workforce and funding level.

It was heartbreaking to learn of the impact this uncertainty is having on regional SA Pathology services. Voices were very loud from regional health professionals, saying any moves to water down or privatise SA Pathology will have an impact on not only providing a diagnosis in a timely manner to health professionals in regional SA but the health services regional hospitals will not be able to provide to their communities. From the delivery of babies to treating a heart attack to emergency operations, all of these services would be under threat if pathology is not available on site and in a timely manner in regional SA.

The committee has heard time and time again that the only reliable pathology services available to regional members of the community is SA Pathology. An ex-nurse had the following to say, and I quote:

…the idea of not having pathology close is, in my view, taking us back 30 or 40 years…the point about this is that if you don't have those services there urgently, you will lose…the mums…bubs. You will lose post-accident [patients].

We also heard from many witnesses that South Australia has the oldest pathology workforce in the state and any moves to remove research and training from the control of the government would have a significant impact on attracting and keeping pathologists in South Australia.

Witnesses were unable to point to another state that has privatised research and training, as this is a service that is not profitable to a private provider. The risk of losing research and training in SA would remove the highly regarded service we are able to provide in this state. Issues have been raised through this process that would not have otherwise been aired—voices that would not have had the chance to be heard. This interim report only scratches the surface. This committee must continue, and the findings so far cannot and must not be ignored.

I look forward to working with the committee members, the Hon. Justin Hanson, the Hon. Connie Bonaros, the Hon. Tammy Franks, the Hon. John Dawkins, and the Hon. Terry Stephens in the new year. I would like to thank Mark Douglas, our research officer, and our secretary, Emma Johnston.

Motion carried.