SA Health Partnerships

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on partnerships in SA Health?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his question and I am happy to address the issue. The Marshall Liberal government is a collaborative government. We are committed to engaging with stakeholders to deliver better services for South Australians.

One example of this is a new partnership between SA Health in the form of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and the Toronto-based University Health Network. The University Health Network is Canada's largest healthcare and medical research organisation. The network includes the Toronto General Hospital, the Toronto Western Hospital, the Princess Margaret Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and the Michener Institute of Education.

The network is ranked the number seven in the world and has undertaken major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. The four hospitals and five research institutes employ over 1,000 researchers and have secured annual research funds of more than $Can380 million, which translates to $A421 million.

Importantly, the network has a team dedicated to the translation of research into medical products that improve health care. That is exactly the sort of research that public health systems need. Having world-class research means that you attract world-class clinicians who in turn ensure that the care provided in the hospitals is at the cutting edge of medical innovation. The work to translate research into medical products is also vital, bringing the tremendous advances of contemporary science into our theatres and into every department in our hospitals, and again giving South Australians the best possible care.

The Central Adelaide Local Health Network itself already undertakes significant research at both the Royal Adelaide Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and is heavily involved in the Adelaide biomedical precinct. This new partnership will strengthen CALHN's research partnerships and allow for new collaboration with one of the top 10 hospitals in the world. The partnership demonstrates that in South Australia we are delivering top shelf research, such that a world leader in health research is looking to join with us in that work.

I particularly want to acknowledge the leadership of the chair of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network board, Raymond Spencer, and the CEO, Lesley Dwyer, for the work that they have put in in getting this partnership agreement established. It is a great opportunity for South Australia and for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network in particular, and I look forward to the fruits of this collaboration.