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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-27 Daily Xml
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Health System

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (15:38): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister update the house on how improvements in our health system are making a difference for patients and their families?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:38): I thank the member for Waite for her question, and I thank her for—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, I can't hear the minister, so if you could just come to order. Thank you.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I thank the member for Waite for her question and her advocacy for our health system. I want to take the opportunity to thank the 50,000 people who work for SA Health for their hard work day in, day out, caring for hundreds of thousands of South Australians every year. In particular, I want to highlight some of the incredible work that they do caring for our patients. If you only listened to those opposite, and in particular the member for Schubert, you would think that the system is leading to tragic cases all over the state and horrible outcomes for people. Credit to the member for Schubert, she is very good at being negative all the time, but it is worth highlighting some of these incredible stories that we do hear. It is worth highlighting some of these incredible stories. Let's hear from some of the South Australians about the care that they received in our hospital system.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Bragg! The member for Hammond!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Let's hear from Christine, who lives in the Leader of the Opposition's electorate. She wrote:

I want to thank you and the South Australian Government for the excellent advances in keeping people out of [A&E). This week we have experienced the Ambulance Service, the Sefton Park Hospital Avoidance Clinic and the My Home Hospital and we [were] most impressed with all three services.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta, don't make me throw you out in your last minute of question time.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: 'This is just a quick message to say thank you to the SA government' a most impressive advance in medical care. Or take Ian from my own electorate, who emailed us saying:

I was transported to Flinders with heart failure. What followed over the ensuing 12 days could have easily rated as the most traumatic experience of my life [but] It was not!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: 'I wish to commend as highly as possible, the SA ambulance crew, ED nurses, ward staff'—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, member for Morialta, you are going to leave—for the rest of question time. No, no, I was just kidding. We want to finish with a full deck for the first time in a lot of months.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: 'As South Australians we ought to be very grateful for and extremely proud of the great people who make our Health System world class.' So said Ian from Seaford. Karen said:

I am writing to you regarding Noarlunga Hospital. In December last year, I had major surgery [at the hospital]...I [want] to commend the hospital, Nurses, staff, Doctors in particular Dr Conner…for the wonderful care I received. During a time when there is so much disquiet regarding hospitals and health in general, I want to put a positive side to this. I would like…to pass on my feedback to all at this facility and in particular thank YOU.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Bragg will come to order.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: But my favourite letter that I received wasn't actually sent directly to me. It was sent to member for Schubert. It was cc'd to me and it said:

In response to your trolling for bad news stories about the SA health system, please take [into] account my recent experience. Last week I experienced chest pain that prompted me….my wife to call 000. The ambulance arrived promptly and took me to the RAH. I was diagnosed…[I had] surgery…I was then cared for by a team…The SA health system saved my life and cared for me with wonderful…compassion. [Of course our health system isn't perfect] I reflect on…how special it is to live in a community that chooses to [spend our] resources…this way. [Please do not overlook the wonderful work being done by SA's health system.]

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Well, that was the noisiest five minutes of question time I reckon we've had. I did want to let it go a little bit because it is the last day. For some people who are retiring, they know it is their last day. This is a pretty difficult day, having come in here fives times and wondering whether I would be back again. I want to thank everyone for their time in here. I'm going to maybe seek the house's indulgence in about half an hour or so to make some comments. For those who won't be coming back in for that, I wish you all the very best for the festive season, the campaign and for the election on 21 March. Thank you for putting up with me.

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