4. JILL PETTIS (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What investment is the Government making in health services in Wanganui?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
This Labour-led Government is investing around $30 million to provide Wanganui with a world-class public hospital. We have granted approval, so construction can begin as soon as the district health board is ready. This is the latest chapter in the Labour-led Government’s historic public hospital building programme.
I received a report late last week that the local National member was “requesting information and asking questions to keep the health issues in front of me”. In fact, that member has not lodged a written question on health in 3 months. I have also received reports of that member saying that the Government should “just stump up”. That is an interesting proposition from a party that was prepared to deny funding to the health sector, in order to pay for reckless tax cuts.
Chester BorrowsIf the Minister wants to score points for funding core health business in Wanganui, will he accept the blame for the appalling Government performance in respect of Wanganui’s home-care services, ambulance services, paediatric and obstetric services, recruiting, acquired brain injury care, funding for aged-care and hospice services, and accident and emergency department, which is so under-resourced that it took 22 hours to admit an elderly woman who had presented after a fall—or is that all someone else’s fault?
The member is terribly confused. That member stood on the hustings just over a year ago—[ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERPlease be seated. Courtesy was shown to Mr Borrows when he asked his question; courtesy will be shown to the Minister when he replies, so that we can hear.
The member cannot have it both ways. Money can be spent but once around this place, and it cannot be spent on health and tax cuts at the same time. I advise the member, with pride, that the average level of funding, per capita, for Wanganui not only has increased above inflation every year that this Government has been in office but is 22 percent higher than it is for the rest of the country.
Barbara StewartWhat is the Minister’s ministry doing to ensure that workforce shortages will not render the new hospital ineffective, given that the Whanganui District Health Board is currently short of its required medical staff?
The member raises a good question, particularly in relation to paediatrics and obstetrics, which are two services currently under review in Wanganui. Completion of these reviews, and the development of a long-term solution for both of them, are among the conditions the district health board must satisfy to receive final approval for the hospital redevelopment project.
Tariana TuriaHow can the Whanganui District Health Board attract obstetricians, and how can midwives be retained, when the new maternity facility will have only three delivery rooms as opposed to the current six, and eight antenatal and post-natal beds compared with the current 18?
I think the member should reflect on the fact that not only has the funding been given now so that the shell of the building can be begun, but the reviews, which are not yet completed, set out to determine what the future look of maternity and paediatric services will be—that is to say, the internal design is not yet complete.