8. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What action will he take to avert the current industrial dispute in hospitals that is disrupting the lives of thousands of patients?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
I will continue to encourage the district health boards and the unions involved to seek a resolution as quickly as possible, in the interests of the New Zealand public.
What steps has he taken to satisfy himself that the public safety will be assured, and is he prepared to repeat the commitment of the previous Minister of Health, that in health the buck stops with him?
The issue of life-preserving services is not a matter of policy, or just of policy; it is a matter of law. My interest is to see that the law is complied with.
Does the Minister realise how bad this strike is going to be? We have called around the district health boards today, and close to 20,000 patients will be disrupted—
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That question was finished in about six words. To then give the House a speech on activity in the morning, which is interesting for the National Party, is not part of the question.
Madam SPEAKER
Gerry BrownleeYou have asked him to reword his question. He was wording it perfectly satisfactorily. Mr Mallard may not be very happy with it, but clearly that is because a major political point was about to be made, which Ministers make constantly in their arguments and answers, and they are allowed to get away with it.
I just note for members that for some reason today both questions and answers have been of extraordinary length. While that is informative, the Standing Orders do require both to be given as succinctly as possible. I have already drawn members’ attention to that in the House today. I am not asking the member to change his question; I am merely asking him to ask his question consistent with the Standing Orders.
Does the Minister stand by his answer in the House yesterday that only 10,000 patients will be affected by the industrial action in our country’s hospitals, when today we have called around the nation’s hospitals and found that close to 20,000 patients will be affected by the strike—with his own Ministry of Health admitting today there is a very real risk that the strike will see even more New Zealand patients culled from hospital waiting lists as a result—and how, after 7 years, it is everybody else’s responsibility but his?
The member is easily riled. I said in the House yesterday that more than 10,000 people were involved, and I believe that more than 10,000 people will be involved. If, indeed, the member is correct and 20,000 people are involved, then that simply reflects just how much health service is delivered by this health system under this Government. I regret that more than 10,000 people will have their appointments or procedures postponed if strikes proceed and I urge both parties to search for agreement, if at all possible.
Does the Minister realise that even if the strike is cancelled or shortened, 20,000 patients will have to be rebooked into the system, making other patients wait longer, and that his most senior officials admitted in a select committee today that there is a very real risk this will mean even more patients will be culled from hospital waiting lists under this Government’s edict?
I am aware that if, for example, a resolution were reached today and the strike did not proceed, many, many people—thousands of them—would have had their first specialist assessment or their surgery postponed. The reason for that is, of course, that district health boards have been planning for this eventuality very carefully for months.
Maryan StreetAre district health boards and unions required to plan for the provision of urgent care in hospitals during strikes; if so, is the Minister confident that this planning is taking place now?
Yes. As a result of reforms introduced by this Labour-led Government, which were not in place under the previous Government, both boards and unions are now legally required to plan for and provide life-preserving services during strikes. I am advised that this planning has progressed well, and I wish to recognise afresh the contribution that senior doctors and nurses will make if the strike does proceed tomorrow.
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
Is it not correct that the Minister and his ministry have deferred responsibility for response to the strikes to individual district health boards, and that there is no official in his ministry who is in charge of ensuring a uniform, coordinated district health board response to the junior doctors’ strike?
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
Is the Minister not alarmed by the fact that his ministry has admitted that the last time it briefed him on the strike was Monday morning, and should he not be taking a more direct interest rather than palming off the responsibility; or is it like everything else we debate in this Chamber—that, even after 7 years in Government, when things go wrong it is always someone else’s fault?
District health boards and the ministry began briefing me on the issue of contingency planning several months ago in order to assure me they were meeting their legal requirements. Briefings have been regular and have become more so in recent weeks, including every day this week.
Can I just say to the member that I receive briefings from district health boards and from the ministry.
Peter BrownCan the Minister advise how many employment-related disputes in the health sector have resulted in industrial action since Labour came to power in 1999, and can he also advise whether the trend is increasing?