Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding hospitals. Noting the litany of problems facing the Women's and Children's Hospital, including under-resourcing and understaffing, are the nine emergency department pods he opened in May now fully operational? Given wait times for obstetrics patients are up to nine months and obstetrics is frequently referring to pregnancies, isn't that a bit late, when babies are normally born by nine months?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:24): I think it is important to remember why the additional nine emergency treatment bays were constructed. That was because of the COVID pandemic. That was surge capacity if needed. Thankfully, to this point, we have not needed to activate those nine treatment bays. When they need to be, they will be.