Ambulance Services

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:32): Supplementary: is it appropriate for a patient to have to catch a taxi because there is no ambulance?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:32): That is a very broad question and—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: What are you going to do about it?

The PRESIDENT: I would hope that you would be quiet so that we can hear what the minister is going to respond.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The question was asked generally—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: You take no responsibility—you do nothing!

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The honourable member has asked a general question. I do not know the details of the case to which she is referring, if she is referring to one. If the honourable member is asking me the general question, 'Is it inappropriate for a person to present to an emergency department in a taxi?', it is not inappropriate. People come by taxi, they come by foot, they come by ambulance.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: What have you done?

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter is out of order.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter will cease interjecting.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The government will continue to deliver ambulance services for those who need assistance to be transferred to the emergency department. But, of course, people will come to the emergency department by a whole range of modes.