Preterm Births

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:03): Supplementary: the minister said there has been a recent increase in preterm births. He didn't say over what period. Can the minister outline what demographic indicators there are in this increase? Is it across all demographics in the state, or is it isolated to certain regions or certain other demographic indicators?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:03): I don't have the state data. What I do know is that through the Whole Nine Months initiative Western Australia has actually been able to turn their preterm births numbers around. We already have South Australian clinicians who are working in this space. For example, there is a team at SAHMRI that has identified that fish oil is a positive contributing factor to reduce the risk of a preterm birth.

In terms of the work that has been done in Western Australia, it actually raises the issue of scanning at the midpoint. I am going to quickly come to the end of my gynaecological knowledge, but I was advised by clinicians involved in the program that one of the key factors in Western Australia was to do mid-pregnancy scans and that some of the indicators can highlight an increased risk of preterm births and that that can facilitate an early response.

These are all the sorts of issues that Dr Monica Skubisz from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute will be working on as she develops new guidelines for perinatal practice. This is a very broad-based program. It provides an awareness campaign for parents-to-be, clinical education and also, as I said, the new guidelines for perinatal practice.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter has a further supplementary arising from the original answer.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, in fact it doesn't.

The PRESIDENT: Sorry?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I wonder if the minister would take my question on notice.

The PRESIDENT: Minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Happy to do so.

The PRESIDENT: Your spirit of cooperation is wonderful. The Hon. Ms Franks.