Hospitals, Discharges

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:11): Supplementary question: given that there may have been more than one case identified, or this may not be the case, can the minister confirm whether there have been any other cases and whether those services that were provided by SALHN were provided prior to her actually being released? Were they actually put in place prior to her being released from hospital or did that follow discharge?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:12): In terms of the first issue (whether or not there may be another case), all I can say is that we were responding to a general comment in the media. I must admit, my office assumed it was a reference to a metropolitan case, so we have only contacted birthing hospitals in the metropolitan area. But in response to those queries, this is the only case that has been brought to our attention. I appreciate when the honourable member made contact with me she wasn't purporting to have more specific detail, so I appreciate that the honourable member may not be able to help me, but we have identified one case that may have been referred to. If there are any other cases, I will be more than happy to follow up.

I should state, too, SA Health has a protocol that people should not be discharged to homelessness. I cannot remember how recently, but in relatively recent times, local health networks were reminded of that policy, so I would hope that networks are operating by that principle. Certainly, all the information provided to me was that the services that I referred to in my answer were services prior to the discharge; in fact, when I am told that SALHN maternity outreach services visited the consumer two days after discharge, that implies that all the other services were before, but I will certainly seek clarification of the point the honourable member raises.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary, the Hon. Ms Bonaros.