House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-07 Daily Xml

Contents

PAXTON REVIEW

113 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (27 July 2010). With respect to the Paxton Review—

1. why was the increase in the cost of mental health demand upon the efficiency and cost profile of emergency departments in hospitals not included as part of the Review;

2. why were the Flinders Medical Centre and the Noarlunga Hospital (Southern Hospital Service) not included as part of the Review; and

3. will there be an efficiency and cost review of those Adelaide Health Service hospitals not included as part of the Review?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised:

1. Paxton Partners was commissioned in 2007 to evaluate the overall of the delivery of acute services in the hospital sector, which is the major cost component of the hospitals. The 'increase in cost on mental health demand' was not part of this review because the mental health system was, at the time, the subject of a comprehensive study by Monsignor David Cappo and the Social Inclusion Board.

2. At the time of the appointment of Paxton Partners in 2007, the hospitals selected to be included in the review were those considered to be the highest priority given the relative financial performance of the hospitals at that time. The hospitals selected after consultation across the health system were the Royal Adelaide Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Lyell McEwin Hospital and the Repatriation General Hospital.

3. There are ongoing efficiency and cost reviews that occur for all public hospitals as part of SA Health's governance processes, including reviews for those hospitals not previously included in the Paxton review.