Aged-Care CCTV Trial

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:52): In response to the answer, thank you, Mr President. Can the minister provide some details of how the audiovisual facilities at Mount Pleasant are being monitored and which company is doing that?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:53): Our partner is Sturdie, as I have indicated to the house. It is using both visual and audio alerts. Speaking to both the technical team there and the nursing team there, it is producing some fascinating challenges. For example, I am told that the sensors were triggered by somebody flicking a bin liner, so the technology needs to be adjusted to make sure that we are picking up legitimate issues of concern.

I have previously detailed to the house, in terms of the relationship with the independent monitoring centre, that this is a 12-month pilot. It will be independently evaluated. I am very keen that our thinking in South Australia draws from this pilot but also draws from much wider. I have been told that there is a non-government organisation in Adelaide that is actively looking at technology to support quality of care. For example, I am told that you can have audiovisual devices that can, if you like, read the pupil of a patient and identify whether or not that person might be experiencing dehydration.

Dehydration is a significant risk in residential aged-care facilities; another one is falls. The technology being used at Mount Pleasant and at Northgate is particularly well suited to identifying a fall when it occurs. A fall which may well lead to a knock on the head and a cerebral bleed needs to be responded to. To have a set of sensors in place that give us the opportunity to respond as quickly as possible to people's care needs, I believe, will help us to continue to deliver the best quality care to older South Australians.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Pangallo, a supplementary.