Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Emergency Medical Access in Remote South Australia Emergency Medical Access in Remote South Australia The Hon. J.S. LEE Legislative Council Emergency Medical Access in Remote South Australia The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, regarding emergency medical access in remote South Australia. Leave granted. The Hon. J.S. LEE Legislative Council The Hon. J.S. LEE: On 27 August, an 85-year-old volunteer suffered a suspected cardiac arrest in Innamincka, more than a thousand kilometres from Adelaide. Despite the presence of off-duty paramedics and, later, Royal Flying Doctor Service staff from New South Wales, access to the local RFDS clinic and ambulance were denied due to staffing issues. The patient was initially treated by the off-duty paramedics at the Innamincka Hotel before being transported to the airstrip on a mattress in the back of a ute. He was then flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The incident has prompted an internal review by RFDS SA/NT and raised serious concerns about emergency preparedness and access in remote communities. My questions to the minister are: 1.	What support is being provided to communities like Innamincka to strengthen local emergency response capacity and avoid similar incidents? 2.	Can the minister indicate whether any recent review was done about disaster management protocols or infrastructure investment to improve emergency health services in remote regions? The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Attorney-General Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Special Minister of State The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for her question. Certainly, there are challenges in a state like South Australia that is a very, very large state, often in areas with very sparse populations like, as the honourable member has pointed out, Innamincka, which is an amazing part of South Australia. I haven't been for a number of years but I would gladly be taken back to Innamincka again. In relation to the particular incident the honourable member has referred to and the general questions, I will be happy to pass them along to the health minister in another place and bring back a reply—who is an avid Crows supporter, I might add.