Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-11-18 Daily Xml

Contents

COVID Care Centres

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:08): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: The government's COVID strategy document, released on 17 November, references 'newly established COVID Care Centres for patients requiring additional treatment interventions'. However, there's been no public mention of the centres to date. I also note that the date on the front of the strategy document is listed as 12 November. My questions to the minister are:

1. What are the exact locations of the COVID care centres, and exactly when will they be fully operational?

2. Why did the minister release a strategy on 17 November that is dated 12 November, when the public is desperate for information about these matters?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:09): Yet another question from the opposition that is based on fallacies.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Leader of the Opposition will not have conversations with his backbench. The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The honourable member is suggesting that we haven't announced our COVID care centres. Well, that's just not true. I went to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and, together with the chief executive of the local health network, was very pleased to be able to announce that the first COVID care centre will be co-located with the emergency department. My understanding is that it will be open by 23 November.