A landmark agreement between SA Health and 13 health providers is set to improve access to patient services and revolutionise the management of hospital demand. Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said a new Patient Services Panel has been established which will allow public patients to access services they need earlier at private facilities, resulting in reduced waiting times for elective procedures and increased capacity in our public hospitals. “Public and private hospitals have always worked together, however this has traditionally been done on an ad-hoc, non-strategic basis,” Minister Wade said. “This new agreement allows for better planning and a more streamlined coordination of services to minimise delays for surgery. “The 13 private providers include day and overnight hospitals which will primarily assist with providing hospital services such as elective surgery and rehabilitation, but also support during emergencies or major incidents. “SA Health will manage the panel, which […]