Health & Wellbeing

The South Australian health system is experiencing crisis as ramping and emergency room wait times in hospitals continue to reach record levels. SA-BEST is committed to addressing these issues through practical solutions and collaborative efforts.

Since 2018, SA-BEST has been at the forefront of the health agenda in South Australia through a Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by myself. This committee has revealed the dysfunctional state of our public health system, with numerous clinicians, nurses, medical experts, and individuals with firsthand experiences testifying to its decline. Alarmingly, the committee has heard that people have died unnecessarily due to systemic flaws, inconsistencies, and insufficient staffing and services.

This is unacceptable, and we have the means to take the burden off our exhausted and overwhelmed doctors, nurses, paramedics, and frontline staff. The crisis has highlighted the urgent need for reform and support in our health system.

Just as years of neglect left it vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health system is currently being jeopardised by a failure to address our state’s mental health crisis. The Unmet Needs report commissioned by the Chief Psychiatrist and made available to the government in 2023 found that 19,000 South Australians in dire need of mental health care are unable to gain access, resulting in a far higher admission rate at emergency departments for mental health cases.

The report has yet to be formally responded to by the government despite clear indication that the implementation of its recommendations would significantly decrease ramping and wait times. SA-BEST will continue to hold the sitting government accountable and demand that such recommendations be implemented urgently.

Key Initiatives

Cardiac Surgery Unit at Women’s and Children’s Hospital: Establish a cardiac surgery unit to avoid the need for interstate transfers for life-saving procedures, reducing trauma and costs.

Funding for Current Women's and Children’s Hospital: Ensure adequate funding to increase patient accommodation and clinical services until the new hospital is open.

Infant Therapeutic Reunification Service: Reinstating this critical service to prevent infant trauma and support vulnerable families.

Safe Working Hours and Conditions: Implement mandated staffing level ratios, ensure safe working hours, and protect workers against violence and bullying. I’m pleased to note that ratios were introduced by the government in September, 2025.

Ambulance Ramping: Introduce a mandated transfer of care policy to ensure patients are admitted within 30 minutes of hospital arrival, supported by appropriate staffing levels.

Public Health Investment: Increase investment in disease prevention and health promotion, targeting physical activity, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol abuse.

Illicit Tobacco: SA-BEST has successfully strengthened penalties for illicit tobacco sales to combat organised crime and protect public health.

Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol: Implement minimum unit pricing to reduce alcohol-related harm, following successful models from other regions.

Address the Mental Health Crisis: Respond to and implement the recommendations from the 2023 Unmet Needs report, commissioned by the Chief Psychiatrist.