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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-09-22 Daily Xml
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Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing questions about the Women's and Children's Hospital's upgraded Special Care Baby Unit, referred to more commonly as SCBU.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Last month, the minister opened the upgraded SCBU, saying at the time that the facility would provide 'a healing and supportive environment to some of our most vulnerable newborn babies and their families' The SCBU is a step down from the paediatric ICU, the logic being the redevelopment of SCBU will free up more humidicrib beds in the ICU for more critical babies.

Almost four weeks later, and at a cost of about $3,000 to $5,000 a day to run, SCBU still hasn't been used because, we are told, there are no suitable staff to run it. This is occurring at a hospital the SA Health CEO, Dr McGowan, has claimed, much to the annoyance of hardworking doctors, nurses and other staff who work there, is overstaffed. My questions to the minister are:

1. What are the delays preventing the Special Care Baby Unit opening a month after its official launch?

2. Has the redevelopment on SCBU reduced the number of general maternity beds at the Women's and Children's Hospital?

The PRESIDENT: Before the minister answers, the Hon. Mr Pangallo, there was a fair bit of commentary in that explanation, but I will ask the minister to respond.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Special Care Baby Unit is part of the Marshall Liberal government's $50 million investment in the Women's and Children's Hospital on the current site to ensure that it continues to provide South Australian women and children world-class care as we plan for the new hospital.

The honourable member seems to be implying that there might be a reduction in capacity. The Special Care Baby Unit is an upgrade. It's a new unit replacing a unit that is currently operating. I am advised that the unit maintains the same bed capacity but does provide expanded space. It helps improve patient privacy and infection control while making the families feel more at home.

This reminds me of an engagement I had with the Women's and Children's Hospital in the planning phase for this particular unit. I am pretty sure that this is the unit where the Women's and Children's Hospital used virtual reality devices to give staff and consumers the opportunity to get a better feel for the proposed design in the design phase.

It was very useful, and what it particularly highlighted was that for both staff and families, the space around the crib was extremely important. When you go into the new SCBU, that is exactly what strikes you. It is a very spacious, very light, very airy facility.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Because no-one's in there. That's because you have no patients. It's like Yes Minister—a perfectly run hospital with no patients.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is getting—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I would just like to be clear that there is a SCBU that is operating.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable Leader of the Opposition is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: People are continuing to receive care there, but the new facility will open in the not too distant future. The honourable member—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter is out of order.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Yes, sir. I am out of order.

The PRESIDENT: You are out of order. Let's listen to the minister. The minister is about to wrap up his answer, I think.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yes, I certainly will, Mr President.

The Hon. R.P. Wortley interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: To directly respond to the honourable member's point, the honourable member suggests that the delay in the opening of SCBU2 and the closing of SCBU1 is related to staff shortages. I am advised that the delay relates to consultation with the ANMF, as per the consultation requirements contained within the 2020 enterprise agreement.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Pangallo has a supplementary question, and I would like to hear it.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I would like to hear the Hon. Mr Pangallo's supplementary question. Order!

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