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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-22 Daily Xml
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PALM LODGE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:48): Thank you, Madam Speaker; I could not hear above all the ambient noise. My question is to the Minister for Health. As the government has just confirmed that it will close the 20-bed mental health facility at Palm Lodge, why is the government employing seven staff to accommodate just one patient at the facility that is about to close?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister.

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) (14:49): So swift on his feet; he is a kind of really agile performer, the member for Morphett. As I said, we are closing this thing down slowly. Clearly, we need to have a range of services provided, even if there is only one patient there.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: We are working sensitively to try and make the adjustments, because these are people who obviously have a whole range of needs. The outcome—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: The outcome for mental health consumers will be vastly improved, and we will get through that process over the next couple of months. I would like to know the opposition's policy, of course, on this and other areas. What would they do? How would they deal with these clients? Would they kick them out into the street? Would they close them down and sack the staff? Maybe they can tell us what they would do.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Davenport.

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