House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-09-28 Daily Xml

Contents

Ambus

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Health. How many times has the ambus been used to transfer patients since the vehicle was launched in January this year?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:55): I was just looking at the ambus. It was in the member for Colton's electorate. It has been highly used and has been found to be invaluable—invaluable—by our ambulance service. I will say another thing: when we relocate patients from the old Royal Adelaide Hospital to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, the ambus will be of great use.

I am particularly surprised that members of parliament who represent regional South Australia would be yelling out and criticising the ambus because having the ambus, when it comes to critical incidents, like bushfires and other incidents where there are mass casualties in rural South Australia, will be unbelievably useful. To be able to take a large number of patients all at the same time and to transfer them to metropolitan hospitals in Adelaide will be incredibly useful, and I am amazed that any member representing rural South Australia would ridicule something that will be of such service to their constituents.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Fisher is called to order.