Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-29 Daily Xml

Contents

Public Hospital Doctors

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney, representing the Minister for Health in another place, a question about public hospital doctors.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: I have been advised that relations between public hospital doctors and hospital management have stooped to new lows following a direction from CALHN chief executive, Ms Dwyer, ordering consultants to finish their rounds by 10.30 each day at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals. That order indicates that finishing rounds by 10.30 instead of late afternoon would create the equivalent of an extra ward. Doctors I have consulted with, and more broadly, believe the order will put patients' safety at risk. My questions to the minister are:

1. Was the minister advised of the direction prior to it being issued by Ms Dwyer?

2. Does the minister agree with the order that was issued?

3. Did the minister have any input into the order and/or direct Ms Dwyer to issue it?

4. Does the minister agree with doctors that the direction puts patients' safety at risk?

5. Is the direction an attempt to reduce ambulance ramping?

6. What happens to those patients who don't fit into the 10.30am cut-off?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for her questions and her interest in the health of South Australians, and I will refer those questions to the minister in another place and bring back a reply for the honourable member.