House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-30 Daily Xml

Contents

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (14:35): I have a supplementary, Madam Speaker. Has the minister read the Coroner's report into the death of Ms Promnitz, and what action has he taken about her death? Have you read it? Have you taken the time?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (14:36): I cannot recall particularly that Coroner's report. I see a number of Coroner's reports. I do read them and I do take action. My department takes the action that is required at the recommendations that are made. I have just pointed out to the house that we have made huge investments to make our emergency departments work. The level of activity in our emergency departments, despite it going up, we have greater activity yet we have better turnaround times in terms of patients being dealt with.

The incident that the member identified is deeply regrettable, and I am sure all of the staff in the hospital are saddened by it. I can say, in particular in relation to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, that it is having remarkable improvements in its processes in the emergency department this very year. It is working at a much higher rate than it has in the past, and I congratulate them for it.