6. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Why has there been an “unprecedented drop” in demand for acute surgery at Canterbury District Health Board?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) Link to this
During the last quarter there has been some reduction in caseloads of acute surgery at the Canterbury District Health Board. I am advised that it is not possible to say at this stage whether it is a trend or a statistical blip.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Firstly, it will depend upon the causes and nature of the reduction, and, secondly, that will be a matter for the district health board to decide.
Tim BarnettHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Acute surgery is required in response to unplanned events—for example, traffic and other accidents, heart attacks, and hernias. The numbers of these fluctuate considerably, especially over short time periods. When data that is discontinuous first arises, it is important to assess the extent and causes of the variation.
Barbara StewartIs the Minister aware that a former employee of the Canterbury District Health Board is using inside knowledge for financial gain by helping people queue-jump surgery waiting lists; if so, what steps is his ministry taking to prevent such activity occurring elsewhere?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I can confirm that that is the case, but I can also confirm that the Canterbury District Health Board’s own elective referral centre is free of charge and provides, I am advised, the same information as, or better information than, that provided by the former employee.
Can the Minister explain the total contradiction whereby the Government says that pressure from emergency surgery pulls resources away from elective surgery, but when there have been 5 months of less emergency surgery, the Canterbury District Health Board cannot organise itself to fill the gaps with more elective surgery?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I am advised that in the last 12-month period the Canterbury District Health Board was able to increase its elective surgery by around 5 percent, and we expect to see more.
Is it not a fact that the Canterbury District Health Board has not responded with more surgery over this period because, according to its own surgeons, the hospital is in a constant state of gridlock, with staff shortages and full wards; and what will the Minister do about it on behalf of the people of Canterbury, now that he is running the show?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The Canterbury District Health Board advised that it does not have any current workforce issues. Of course, it is for the board to manage the tension between service demand and carrying surplus capacity. We are very pleased to see that it is doing that, and are gratified to know that the cost of general practitioners is less than if that member were running the show.
Is the Minister having the House believe him when he says there is no crisis, even though senior surgeons like Mr Bagshaw have talked about shortages of staff and the inability to get services done, and other surgeons are quoted as talking about shortages of staff throughout the hospital system, and the gridlock at Christchurch Hospital?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
May I reiterate for the member that the advice I have received from the Ministry of Health is that the Canterbury District Health Board advises that it does not have any current workforce issues. The Canterbury District Health Board is in the process of managing workflow through Project RED—Rejuvenating the Emergency Department—which is assisting patient flow through the care journey.
Jo GoodhewCan the Minister confirm that, now that he is running the show, he will explain to the people of Canterbury why less elective surgery was performed in the last financial year than in Labour’s first year of office, and why the numbers are likely to be even worse this year because idle theatres were not utilised over that 5-month period?