Answers to Questions

Southern Fleurieu Health Services

331 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().22 February 2024). Can the Minister for Health and Wellbeing advise—

1. What modelling has the state government undertaken to ensure the Southern Fleurieu Health Service public hospital will be able to meet the demand for inpatient medical and theatre services following the cessation of the Victor Harbor Private Hospital operations on 20 April 2024?

2. Has the Southern Fleurieu Health Service public hospital been reliant on the Victor Harbor Private Hospital beds to meet demand in the past 12 months?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has been advised:

The Victor Harbor Private Hospital has a current bed occupancy of 6.5 beds per day with licensing for 18 beds and already operates out of a ward within the Southern Fleurieu Health Service. The Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network has planned to operationalise 16 of these beds specifically as general medical inpatient beds. The private inpatient activity will be transitioned to publicly managed activity through an increase in medical staffing FTE. Similarly, the theatre services are already provided within the Southern Fleurieu Health Service's surgical theatres. The theatre services may transition to publicly managed activity following negotiations with the relevant specialists.

The Southern Fleurieu Health Service has historically had access to up to five beds at a time within the Victor Harbor Private Hospital.