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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-10-15 Daily Xml
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Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding hospitals. The minister promised to consult with clinicians when he took office. To date, the minister has not provided Women's and Children's Hospital clinicians with a full report compiled by his Women's and Children's Hospital task force. He received this more than 18 months ago. The minister also refused clinicians' advice regarding the viability of a cardiac surgery at the hospital by continuing to send South Australians interstate for surgery. My questions to the minister are:

1. When will the minister provide clinicians with a report of the Women's and Children's Hospital task force?

2. Does the minister continue to refute the viability of cardiac surgery at the hospital?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:28): Let me answer the second question first. I am not going to override the board of the Women's and Children's Hospital as they deliberate the future of paediatric cardiac surgery. The Labor government, I appreciate—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Continue.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I appreciate that the former Labor government centralised health governance with the abolition of boards in the mid-2000s, and they strenuously continue to oppose the decentralisation of Health under this government, but we believe that just as health care is better delivered closer to home, we also believe that decisions are made closer to those who deliver the service. That is why we have established board governance. We leave the decisions with the board—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: There's no money.

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

The Hon. S.G. WADE: In relation to the Women's and Children's Hospital, I have certainly had discussions with clinicians and I have made it clear to—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Name a single one.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Continue, minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Dr Michael Yung.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: That's the single one you have had a discussion with?

The PRESIDENT: The minister is on his feet and he is trying to answer a question and he is continually interrupted by members on my left. The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: In relation to paediatric cardiac surgery, the board sought an independent review. It received that review and met with Dr Yung and other clinicians. My understanding is that those discussions are ongoing. Unlike the Hon. Emily Bourke I am not going to ride roughshod over local boards working with local clinicians to deliver local services.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke has a supplementary.

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