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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-25 Daily Xml
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COUNTRY HOSPITALS

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (15:11): My question is directed to the Minister for Health. Following the receipt of the Strategic Food Services Review, will the minister guarantee that no country hospital kitchen will be closed? In 2006, the government contracted the Food and Beverage Institute Pty Ltd to conduct a review of food services in public hospitals. Documents obtained under freedom of information state that the project has been initiated at the direction of the minister. Further, the government has asked that the review include the age of kitchens in hospitals. It has been revealed that the majority of kitchens are more than 15 years old.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:11): Shame on me for trying to improve the provision of hospital food services to the patients in our hospitals. The review, as I understand it, was looking predominantly at metropolitan hospitals. It would be very difficult to change the arrangements that exist in most country hospitals. I know that we have invested quite dramatically in a number of hospitals. As a result of some work that was done, from memory, one of the hospitals in the South-East—it may have been Millicent, I just cannot recall—had to have its kitchen upgraded, and we have done that. A couple of years ago, I was very pleased to open the upgrade to the Wudinna Hospital kitchen. Whenever I visit country hospitals, I always look in at the kitchen to see what they are like. Most of them are in pretty good condition; some need work on them. I think, from memory, a couple needed some work.

Mr Venning: You haven't been to Angaston.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I have so; I have definitely been to Angaston on at least two occasions. I think the member objected on one occasion that I did not invite him. I have been to Angaston on a couple of occasions. In fact, my wife was born in the Angaston Hospital, and I took great pleasure in standing in the room in which she was born. That room is now a waiting room.

Mr Venning interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I didn't hear that, but I am sure it was witty. In relation to hospitals, I recognise that country hospitals do a great job. They not only service their local hospital communities but generally, if there is a nursing home, they service the nursing home and also Meals on Wheels. I have no intention of interfering with any of those arrangements. However, a couple needed to be upgraded and, as I understand it, either the budget has been committed or the work has already been done. There is no intention to interfere with the country hospitals.

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