Health Minister Stephen Wade forced to apologise for misleading Parliament over RAH privacy screen claims
THE state’s health minister has been forced to apologise for misleading Parliament after a leaked document contradicted what he claimed to know about Royal Adelaide Hospital privacy screens.
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THE state’s health minister has been forced to apologise for misleading Parliament after a leaked document contradicted what he claimed to know about Royal Adelaide Hospital privacy screens.
Stephen Wade repeatedly insisted he learnt of controversial plans to spend $1600 shielding ambulance patients from public view shortly before SA Health announced it in late May.
But amid intense public criticism over claims the temporary screens only shield ambulance ramping at the new $2.3 billion facility, leaked government correspondence shows he was told two days prior.
The internal department briefing minute, seen by the Sunday Mail, contradicts two statements Mr Wade made to State Parliament and similar public comments to the media.
As the Health Minister apologised for misleading the Legislative Council, the Opposition accused him of being “caught out” committing a “serious offence” against Parliament.
After refusing to answer the Sunday Mail’s questions, Mr Wade said in a statement: “I did not deliberately mislead Parliament.
“I do not recall that brief and I regret the oversight. I apologise for the oversight and will correct the record at the first opportunity.
“The only reason these screens are needed is because the former Labor Government monumentally stuffed up the design of the RAH.”
The disclosures cap a torrid fortnight for Mr Wade, who has battled hospital overcrowding industrial unrest and The Advertiser yesterday revealing another health system spending crisis.
Ambulance rear doors no longer face inward because of build up of diesel exhaust fumes and heat from running engines under emergency department awnings.
In what the paramedics union described as a “ridiculous” design flaw, the frequent and chronic ramping backlog meant patients were unloaded in full view of a busy car park and nearby Port Road.
Authorities are still investigating permanent solutions with the SA Ambulance Service and other parties.
According to the May 24 memo, written by Central Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive officer Jenny Richter, the scenario compromised “patient privacy and dignity”.
The minute, authorised by SA health chief executive Dr Chris McGowan, was written “due to the likelihood of media attention”.
Despite having “noted” it on May 29, Mr Wade repeated media comments when he told Parliament on June 5 that he was informed just hours before Ms Richter’s public statement at 4.30pm on May 31.
On July 3, he told the Upper House the Premier’s office was also notified that day, adding: “Neither my office nor myself were advised of the erection of the screening before Thursday 31 May.”
On July 3, he told the Upper House the Premier’s office was also notified that day, adding: “Neither my office nor myself were advised of the erection of the screening before Thursday 31 May.”
Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said South Australians would ask that “if he misled the state over this, can we believe what he says”.
“(His) only defence appears to be incompetence,” he said.
“That he can’t remember what he personally signed off on that week.
“He’s either told a fib to the Parliament or (is) so incompetent he can’t remember what he did from one day to the next.
“Either way it is a major failure for the man running the biggest department in the state.”
In a separate statement, Ms Richter said: “The temporary fencing … protects patient privacy and maintains safe working conditions for staff.”
