Former Labor MP, now independent Frances Bedford wants parliamentary inquiry into Transforming Health reforms

LABOR defector Frances Bedford wants a parliamentary inquiry into the contentious Transforming Health reforms led by her former party.

• Transforming Health explained

LABOR defector Frances Bedford wants a parliamentary inquiry into the contentious Transforming Health reforms led by her former party.

Now sitting as an independent MP after defecting from Labor ahead of the March election, Ms Bedford has put a motion to Parliament to establish a committee to “report on the benefits, costs and impacts of Transforming Health”.

“Transforming Health hasn’t worked,” she said.

“I believe the whole health system needs to be looked at.”

Announced in March 2015, Transforming Health was meant to curb the state’s ballooning health bill by closing or downgrading some hospitals, upgrading others and relocating services.

It was met with significant community opposition and was eventually watered down by Labor ahead of the state election, following a number of backflips.

Independent MP Frances Bedford is seeking an inquiry into the benefits and impacts of Transforming Health. Picture: AAP / Brenton Edwards

Ms Bedford was a member of the Labor caucus which approved the Transforming Health plan. However she increasingly voiced concerns over the downgrading of Modbury Hospital in her electorate.

Anyone from senior health bureaucrats to frontline medical professionals could be called to give evidence if the inquiry is approved by MPs.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said the Government was “actively considering” supporting the inquiry because it would help rebuild the health system.

Labor health spokesman Chris Picton said if the committee was established, he would like to be a member.

He said that would give him the chance to “forensically examine the lack of a plan for the health system under Health Minister Stephen Wade”.

Under Ms Bedford’s proposal, the committee would examine:

THE problems Transforming Health was designed to fix and whether they were addressed adequately;

WHICH other issues Transforming Health should have addressed;

THE level of public consultation on the reforms, and;

WHETHER South Australia receives enough federal health funding.

MPs are set to debate the proposal on July 26.