South Australia's Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing and Substance Abuse, Martin Hamilton-Smith, is calling on his government counterpart for an explanation regarding allegedly illegal and unsafe cuts to staffing levels in Adelaide's hospitals. According to a media release by Mr. Hamilton-Smith, serious concerns over understaffing were recently raised and require immediate clarification.

"Nurses and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation clearly disagree with the staffing formulas used by Minister Hill in terms of providing safe and adequate care for patients," says Mr. Hamilton-Smith. "These concerns follow on the back of nursing staff protests at Mount Gambier two weeks ago over continuing failure to provide proper staffing numbers at all times. The well-being and safety of vulnerable patients waiting for major surgery should be a fundamental principle of hospital policy. Our nurses deserve the full support and confidence of their department and Minister to carry out their vital duties with appropriate staffing ratios."

Mr. Hamilton-Smith says he will personally alert the Coroner to these staffing concerns and says that any deaths in the hospital units affected by the nursing cuts should be investigated to determine whether the understaffing contributed in any way.