Australian Rules Fans Among South Australian Government Ranks Show Concern for State Health System

Australian Rules football enthusiasts can be found among the ranks of the South Australian government, with Premier Peter Malinauskas himself recalling his days as an "average footballer" during his time in the amateur league at Adelaide University. The government's recent interaction with the AFL to bring a full round of games to South Australia has not overshadowed the escalating concerns surrounding the state's public health system, particularly as the system faces unprecedented pressure.

The state's health system has been placed under strain, with a recent event causing the entire public hospital system to be declared in a state of "code yellow" or "internal disaster". This declaration has led to the postponement or cancellation of non-urgent elective surgeries across the state in an effort to alleviate the burden on the system. Despite the injection of billions of dollars into health in the government's budgets and the upcoming delivery of additional funds, the system is struggling to cope with the demand, leaving every available hospital bed open and out-of-hospital care maximized.

The current challenges facing the health system in South Australia stem from a combination of factors, including the inability to discharge patients from hospitals and an increase in presentations to emergency departments, exacerbated by a wave of respiratory infections and COVID-19 cases. The government's pledge to address these issues, particularly around ambulance response times and opening more hospital beds, is being closely scrutinized as it navigates through the "premiership" quarter of its term, with the expectation to deliver significant improvements. Despite efforts and investments made in the health sector, the government faces mounting pressure to meet the standards it set for itself and deliver on its promises, with the electorate potentially less forgiving in the next election if improvements are not seen.