Public Health Services

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the house on public health services in South Australia?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Marshall Liberal government is committed to the delivery of quality health services and reversing the damage of Labor's disastrous Transforming Health experiment. Adelaide's west was one of the many areas that was impacted by Transforming Health, with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital stripped of services and downgraded in favour of Labor's new RAH project.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: This government has already reversed some of these cuts. We restored 24/7 cardiac services—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter and the Hon. Ms Bourke will remain silent.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and we upgraded their cardiac catheterisation laboratories—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —with an investment of $4 million. We are also delivering—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Wortley is out of order, and the Hon. Mr Ridgway is out of order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: This government is also delivering the stage 3 redevelopment—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —a redevelopment that was twice promised by Labor and twice cancelled. They delivered nothing for the west, other than a press release.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley is out of order, as are other members on my left. The minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Late last year it was a matter of pride that the Marshall Liberal government delivered the first phase of the redevelopment with the opening of a multistorey car park. For the second phase we worked with clinicians and the communities to ensure the redeveloped TQEH would continue to provide services that aligned with the community's needs. As a result—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I am trying to hear the minister, and I am having difficulty, so I am sure others are as well.

The Hon. R.P. Wortley: Why would you want to listen to that rubbish?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley, I am talking. I will call the minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: As a result of this consultation the scope of the project has been broadened, and an additional $50 million will be invested in the project to support the expanded scope. The revamped $314 million TQEH stage 3 redevelopment will now deliver an increase of 15 emergency department treatment bays, taking the number from 31 to 46; an additional operating theatre; and a new 14-bed intensive care unit with more recovery spaces to support this service. The new clinical services building will include 52 inpatient beds, a new medical imaging department, a pathology lab and additional support areas which will rejuvenate the hospital and the services it delivers.

In relation to the emergency department in particular, people who have actually visited the site—and I appreciate members opposite only go there once every four years—would know how cramped the emergency department facility is—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Continue, minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The champagne socialists who have long forgotten the Labor people, let me remind you of the Port Augusta ambulance station and also let me assure you that when I was growing up as a child, TQEH was my local hospital.

The Marshall government has commenced preparatory works which will enable a streamlined construction program and allow major construction works to begin in the second half of 2021. The expansion of the TQEH not only demonstrates the Marshall Liberal government's—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —commitment to Adelaide's west, it also demonstrates our commitment to clinical and community engagement in our major projects.