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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-09-22 Daily Xml
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Spinal Cord Injury Service

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Health questions regarding the relocation of the South Australian Spinal Cord Injury Service to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I have had brought to my attention serious concerns about the relocation of the South Australian Spinal Cord Injury Service to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital as part of the Transforming Health program. It is my understanding that it was confirmed last Friday that there will be no gymnasium or physical exercise provisions within the development at TQEH. This, I believe, completely disregards the overwhelming evidence that supports physical exercise as a key component to positive rehab and long-term outcomes for people who have sustained spinal cord injuries.

I also understand that SA Health has initiated a new development process that will ensure that once the plans are signed off they will be handed over to the builder and there will be no recourse for modification once the development starts. It is appreciated, the need to expedite the build, but this adds further weight to the argument that it is imperative that the process is done right the first time around. My questions to the minister are:

1. With the newly announced SA Health development process, is there a high risk of poor outcomes for vulnerable South Australians if this goes ahead as planned?

2. Has the minster's planning for this relocation been compared to the recent redevelopment of the Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, where, while state of the art technology is present, I understand the OT area is not completely wheelchair accessible, nor does it have safely useable ceiling hoists, and where patients have resorted to doing sport and recreation training in the hospital car park?

3. Given the pressures on staff and resourcing at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre at present, will the minister ensure that extra staffing will be provided once the Spinal Cord Injury Service is relocated to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital?

4. Will the minister assure South Australians with spinal injury, their family, carers and organisations who advocate on their behalf, that appropriate accommodation and family facilities will be included in the relocation?

5. Will the minister acknowledge that a spend of only $20 million for relocation and upgrade of rehab services seems to pale in comparison with the $160 million given for the upgrade of the Flinders Medical Centre for rehabilitation?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions directed to the Minister for Health in the other place on the subject of the relocation of the SA Spinal Cord Injury Service. In relation to her five specific questions about the quality of access, the adequacy of the expenditure for the shift and whether extra staff will be provided, I undertake to take those questions to the minister in another place and seek a response on her behalf.

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