Question Time

Child Protection

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Leader of Government Business regarding children's safety in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: An inspection of the Women's and Children's Hospital by the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand on 17 October concluded that the hospital's intensive care unit cannot continue to be accredited for training and intensive care medicine as it falls substantially short of expectations on several fronts. The report by the college also makes reference to the ICU being understaffed and overcrowded and suggests that sick children fighting for their lives are being left without a doctor in sight. My questions to the leader are:

1. When was his government advised by the college that the Women's and Children's Hospital would lose its accreditation for training and intensive care medicine?

2. Will the government give this council assurance that the concerns raised by the college will be resolved to ensure the hospital will have its accreditation reinstated?

3. As the Leader of the Government in this place, what does he say to South Australian parents who are concerned about their children's safety?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:25): I thank the honourable member for her question. Questions that fall wholly within the purview of the Minister for Health, as always, I am happy to pass on and bring back a reply.