12. NATHAN GUY (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What reports has he received, if any, on the Horowhenua Health Centre, and how many GPs have been secured for the centre?
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Associate Minister of Health) Link to this
I am advised that the MidCentral District Health Board received a report on this matter last week. The report informed the board of the very good progress with building the Horowhenua Health Centre, and that negotiations are close to being finalised to secure four general practitioners for the centre.
What input have local, Levin-based general practitioners had into the overall design of the Horowhenua Health Centre, and is the Minister concerned that health planner bureaucrats have failed to listen to what local general practitioners wanted incorporated into this new facility?
The information I have is that the only person who has not supported or got behind the local initiative for the health centre is that member.
Darren HughesHow helpful is it to the people of Horowhenua for someone who has done no work on the health centre project to be actively undermining initiatives that my constituents support, such as the Horowhenua Health Centre?
Not only is it not helpful to local people; it reveals that a small number of people want to see the project fail, including a member in this House so that he can score political points.
How does the Minister expect the Horowhenua Health Centre to satisfy the two clauses in the business case—which was signed off by Cullen and King in 2004— that talk about ensuring that general practitioners work at the new, 12-doctor centre, and that it is a central site for community after-hours care, given that local general practitioners are staying put in their own practices and do not seem to be moving?
I understand that the new facility will accommodate something like 12 general practitioners for after-hours services. It would be a good idea for that person actually to talk to the local district health board, so that he can be better informed.
Why does the monthly quality assurance report for May 2006 by AuditLink state that the primary and secondary care integrated model will not be fully operational until 18 to 24 months after the centre opens; and are taxpayers getting value for their $16 million investment?
To the latter part of the question, absolutely. To the first part, of course there are time frames in place for the completion of the Horowhenua facility. In November 2004 capital was approved for the MidCentral District Health Board to build the Horowhenua Health Centre in Levin, to replace the Horowhenua Hospital. The project was costed at around $16 million. In March 2006 construction began. In October of this year the MidCentral District Health Board reported that the construction was progressing very well. The centre is destined to open in April 2007. The member might even turn up on the day for the opening.
Gerry BrownleeMr Brownlee should not be talking about outgoing members, seeing as he will be packing up his office all weekend; he should be the last person in Parliament to say that! Can the Minister tell us on how many occasions in the 1990s the people of Horowhenua received $16 million in health projects for items like the Horowhenua Health Centre; how many times did that happen?
Due to the good work of the local member, $16 million has been committed to this very, very important project, without any help from the member who asked the primary question.
With the building costs escalating from $13.9 million to $16 million, and with this health centre due to open in a few months, where will the extra $2 million come from?
The member was told that $16 million has been committed to the project. It is actually running on track.
Who will cover the $2.5 million - odd from land sales required for the project, if there is a local iwi claim and it ends up in the Office of Treaty Settlements?
There is the matter of a Treaty claim over the area, but that matter will be dealt with separately from this particular matter.
I seek leave to table the business case sign-off in 2004, which states that a critical mass of general practitioners is required at this new, $16 million health centre—