Barossa Valley Hospital

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
7 June 2001

Sandra Kanck
Deputy Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

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The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Transport, representing the Minister for Human Services, a question about the new hospital proposed for the Barossa Valley.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: On Tuesday, the Advertiser carried the story `$12 million plan for new Barossa hospital'. The story came from a media release entitled `New hospital for the Barossa gets go ahead', which was issued on Thursday 31 May, budget day. Despite the announcement, there is no definitive plan for the hospital to be found in the budget. There are no funds specifically set aside for the hospital. A mention was found in the Treasurer's speech which said that a new hospital was to be considered. The media release gives the impression that this was a new announcement, yet the new hospital was given the go ahead by Ray Blight from the Health Commission in 1995. Now it seems that the hospital is not due to be completed until 2006, 11 years from the original government announcement.

The Tomlinson report, which was carried out for Barossa Area Health Services Inc., reviewed the state of both the Angaston and Tanunda hospitals. The key finding was that a new integrated acute hospital and health service was needed, but in the short term `an urgent, immediate capital investment' of approximately $8 million was needed just to enable continued delivery of acute and community health services. The report also stated:

. . . continued delivery of health service to the Barossa Valley by Barossa Area Health Services Inc. could be compromised from: an inability to continue to effectively manage the existing risks associated with continued use of existing substandard assets. . .

The government's media release did recognise that `urgent repair work' was needed. Provision has been made for a $300 000 funding grant to the hospital board-just $7.7 million short of what was needed. My questions to the minister are:

1. How much money has been put aside in this year's budget to plan for the new hospital?

2. Does the department of Human Services have ownership of the Reusch Park site at Nuriootpa?

3. Why was the press release sent out on budget day when there was no clear indication of budget funds for the new hospital?

4. Why has it taken so long for the government to honour a commitment made six years ago?

5. Given the Tomlinson report recommendation for $8 million to be spent urgently to maintain acute community health services, why has the government given the health service just $300 000?

6. Following the minister's undertaking last November, that an assessment of the Angaston and Tanunda hospitals to maintain assets in the short term would take place, will the minister provide me with a copy of the results of that assessment?

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW (Minister for Transport and Urban Planning): I will refer the honourable member's questions to the minister and bring back a reply. I can confirm that there is money in the budget to investigate the issues.

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW: The Minister for Human Services has provided the following information:

1. $50 000 has been put aside in this year's budget for concept development and evaluation for the Barossa Valley Hospital.

2. Title to the Reusch Park site is in the name of the South Australian Housing Trust, which is part of the Human Services portfolio. The site, therefore, is effectively under the control of the Minister for Human Services.

3. The government has committed to providing capital funding for a new Barossa Hospital, such that construction work can commence in 2004-05 with completion in 2005-06.

4. Planning for major developments, and the subsequent commitment of funds, requires a significant lead time.

5. The Tomlinson report identified the level of capital expenditure required to maintain and redevelop Angaston and Tanunda Hospitals as acute hospitals for the long term. Since this is not to be the case, an amount of $300 000 was allocated to address urgent maintenance issues only at both sites.

6. The works to be undertaken were agreed between the Barossa Health Service and the Wakefield Regional Health Service and funded by the Department of Human Services, and were those identified as requiring immediate action. The Minister for Human Services advises that whilst the Department approved the release of $300 000 on 21 February 2001, as at 29 June 2001 only $70 000 had been spent.