8. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
How many elective surgery patient discharges were there in the financial year to March 2006, and how does this compare with the same period in 2000-01?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
There has been a 1 percent decrease in the two 9-month periods that the member has chosen. If, however, he had chosen the most recent financial year 12-month period, he would have demonstrated an increase on the previous year or the year before that, or an 8 percent increase since the change of Government, or a 15.4 percent case-weighted increase since the change of Government—in other words, to prove a decrease requires the member to be very selective with his electives.
What does the Minister plan to do about the disconnect in Government policy where, on the one hand, the Government is encouraging more people to see their general practitioner, and, on the other hand, if they are sick, the Government does not want them anywhere near a hospital waiting list?
The member continues to make it up. Clearly, the member’s comments reveal that he is against prioritisation, against ongoing care for patients, and against the booking system created by his colleague the former Minister and former and future leader of the National Party, the Hon Bill English. He would rather have people waiting and waiting without being seen by anyone.
Sue MoroneyDoes elective surgery discharge data include outpatient procedures; if not, will he take steps to include this information in the future?
No, elective surgery data does not include the growing number of procedures that have shifted to outpatient settings since the change of Government. From 1 July this year a new national non-admitted patients database will start to give us a real picture of how many elective procedures are being performed in New Zealand.
Dr Jackie BlueWhy is the Government’s relationship with the health sector so bad, when it was under better control under Annette King, but now, having been under Pete Hodgson for 6 months, we have fewer electives, the Minister calling the surgeons unethical, and general practitioners refusing to sign their contract—a contract that Annette King successfully negotiated on two previous occasions?
In reply to the member’s three questions, in respect of the first one, the number of electives is going up, not down. In respect of the—
Hon Dr Nick SmithOh, well, we will deal with just two of them then. In respect of the second one, the member’s colleague the Hon Tony Ryall has been telling the media breathlessly that this is the first red letter that has ever been sent. The Hon Tony Ryall is wrong on that point, as well—as he is wrong on most points. This is the third red letter to be sent. This is red-letter sending season.
How does the Minister of Health explain putting out a press statement praising the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board for its surgical performance when answers to written questions show that he based that statement on data from a completely different district health board?
It is true that the Ministry of Health changes its data from time to time, and it did manage to swap half of the data between Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay recently. However, it does change its data less often than the National Party changes its leadership.
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
Why did we never have any of this sort of embarrassment being caused for the Government when Annette King was in charge of health, yet under just 6 months of Mr Hodgson health is a permanent albatross around the Prime Minister’s neck?
The member continues to make it up. What I ask the member to take into account is whether a party that 8 months ago went to the hustings and said: “We will have $11 billion worth of tax cuts over the next 4 years.”, would then want to know how it is possible to also put more money into health. One has to make a choice around here. Either one is in favour of investing in health and education and the future of this country, or one is in favour of giving it away in tax cuts. One can spend money once, and I am glad we won that election.
Hon Peter DunneI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have been reflecting upon your comment earlier during this question time about your wish to enforce the rules even-handedly, and it occurs to me that an appropriate way in which you could do that would be to enforce Mr Speaker Tapsell’s ruling 150/1 regarding there being no interjections during question time. I think you would have a majority of support amongst members in this House if you chose to do so.
Madam SPEAKERI seek leave to table the Minister of Health’s press statement that praised the performance of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and the figures he used to praise the board, and a second document that shows those figures did not relate in any way to that board. How incompetent is that!
I seek leave to table three documents: one showing an increase in the last financial year in elective surgery discharges compared with the previous financial year, a second one showing an increase of 8 percent in elective surgery discharges since the change of Government, and a third one showing a 15.4 percent increase in case-weighted discharges for elective surgery since the change of Government.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I want to check with you whether, in fact, it is necessary for the Minister to seek leave to table a document.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask that the Minister table the documents he quoted from.
I am sorry, but I do not understand that. Obviously, if the Minister quoted from an official document, then he can be asked to table it. Is that what the Minister was doing?