3. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Has he seen reports describing the Capital and Coast District Health Board as a place of “Dysfunction, mistrust, morale at rock bottom”; if so, are these reports accurate?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) Link to this
Yes, I have seen those reports. As I outlined in my previous response, I have significant concerns relating to the situation at the Capital and Coast District Health Board. I am considering the options I have relating to those reports and the situation they outline.
Well, who has been running the show for the last 8 years, with the result that this document is testament to the fact that the people of Wellington have a service that is now characterised as being in a constant state of crisis control; who has run the show for the last 8 years, and what accountability are they going to take?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Very clearly, the primary accountability rests with the district health board, and it would be inappropriate to reach over that layer of governance until the appropriate work had been done. But the message to this House is very clear: the Government expects that work to be done comprehensively and immediately.
Heather RoyWill the Minister put a commissioner in place to sort out the multiple difficulties that this board has always faced, including an inability to balance its books without clever accounting practices, or will he continue to allow the capital’s public health services to limp along under a new, incoming board by instructing the board that its first duty is not to concern itself with the health needs of the local population but to implement Labour’s health policy, so nothing changes?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
As I have told the House, a full range of options will be considered. None have been ruled in or out.
Who has been running the show for the last 8 years to produce such a toxic relationship between doctors and nurses and management at Wellington Hospital that it has been described as “disconnection, dysfunction and mistrust”, and does the Minister understand the impact that that is having on the confidence of the staff and patients of Wellington; if he does not know the answer to that, maybe he should be looking at the graveyard over there of Ministers of Health who for 8 years have let this happen and done nothing?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I think that all members of this House would agree that the connection between clinicians, managers, and the district health boards is essential. I will be looking to see those connections strengthened, not only in this case but across the sector. But the member will have to do better than call previous hard-working Ministers names, if he is ever to get on this side of the House.
Who has been running the show at Wellington Hospital and in the public health system over the last 8 years; and does the Minister think he can convince the staff and patients of Wellington City that this failed Labour Government is responsible for nothing over the last 8 years?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The member can keep his warm cheap seat going for a long time yet, while we get on and recognise the many miracles that are happening around the country every day in our health system, support our clinicians, and deliver services to our people.
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
Does the Minister realise he is the third Labour Minister of Health to run the show at Capital and Coast District Health Board; and why would the public have any confidence that he will be able to run the show properly, when Annette King and Pete Hodgson just could not, or will it take yet another Labour miracle?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Last time I looked, I saw that this Government has had a lot fewer Ministers of Health than National has had Leaders of the Opposition.
Dr Jackie BlueDoes the Minister realise that his special adviser today at the Health Committee said that the safety issues at Wellington Hospital were no worse than those at any other hospital in the country; and how does the Minister think that patients in our nation’s hospitals will react to that astonishing statement, when faced with appalling headlines like the one in today’s Dominion Post?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The Ministry of Health’s elevated level of concern about the Capital and Coast District Health Board is reflected in the fact that that board is monitored at an intensive level, which of course does not characterise the rest of the sector.