House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-06-05 Daily Xml

Contents

HAMMILL HOUSE

The Hon. R.G. KERIN (Frome) (14:42): Will the Minister for Health update the house on the government's plans to complete the upgrade of Hammill House, the aged care facility in the Port Pirie Hospital? The government has on several occasions since 2002 committed to the upgrade of the 32 beds in Hammill House. While some of the work has been done, the majority of the beds are to be upgraded, despite issues of not meeting 2008 accreditation standards.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:42): I am happy to provide a more thorough briefing for the member. When he was premier of this state there was a way of resolving this issue which required a bit of political courage. Unfortunately, he and his party did not demonstrate that courage and that nursing home facility was allowed to be maintained in a second-class way. It was this government that came to power and put in a couple of million dollars, from memory, to begin the upgrading process. We are working on how to fix it and I will happily provide a briefing to the member.