HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Subject Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-25 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

CLARE DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Mr BROCK (Frome) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, now that the position of one of the two women's health nurses at Clare has been made redundant, can you please explain how the loss of this person is going to affect the delivery of the service, especially the existing clients whom the redundant worker looked after and future clients requiring this type of service? Further, can the minister provide a response to my earlier question of 6 June, when I asked if there were any moves by Country Health SA or the health department to reduce any of the current services at Clare hospital and, in particular, Kara House, with the palliative care ward?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:58): I thank the member for Frome for his question. I might take the second part of his question first. I can advise that there are no planned reductions to services at the Clare hospital. Clare hospital recently relocated the palliative care room to an alternative room within the same hospital wing.

The previous location was converted to a labour ward. The relocation of the labour ward was required due to the recent theatre upgrade necessitated by increased demand. Kara House Nursing Home is located to the rear of the Clare hospital and was not in any way affected by these changes.

The only services at Clare that have changed are the Do It for Life and Eat Well Be Active programs. Both programs are now addressed by other measures. Do It for Life ended on 30 June and will now be met by a telephone advice line running across the state. Eat Well Be Active will end on 30 September this year and will be replaced by existing programs picking up concepts around healthy eating, healthy lifestyles and being active.

With regard to the first part of the member's question about services provided to the women's health nurses at Clare, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to comment on the circumstances of an individual SA Health employee; however, I am happy to ask my office to investigate any specific concerns that the member for Frome might have about the person in question.

I can tell the member that the services of one-on-one counselling will be continued in the Lower North through referrals to social workers and mental health staff employed at Clare. There have been no redundancies in the mental health team in Clare. The mental health team has seven full-time equivalents consisting of nurses and the provision of services, including social work and occupational therapy. I am advised that the caseload for these workers is manageable.

The group work currently offered to the community will also continue to be offered through a partnership between Country Health SA's Social Worker and Uniting Communities. Women's Health Nurses continue to support the region and attend meetings and are members of regional committees. Other services, as they are identified or established, will be delivered through partnerships with community organisations.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT