6. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What led the Canterbury District Health Board to decide to curtail all leave for junior doctors until August, and how widespread are these problems elsewhere around the country?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) Link to this
I am advised that the media report on this issue is inaccurate, and that the Canterbury District Health Board has called for an immediate correction of the article. The Ministry of Health advised that it is not aware of any other district health boards having to cancel annual leave as described. Perhaps John Key can advise the Canterbury District Health Board how someone gets a newspaper to run a correction.
Will the Minister tell the House why, when the Christchurch Hospital general manager has told the media that there will be constraints on staff leave because of these shortages, he plays on words to conceal the real crisis facing that hospital?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I am very pleased to talk about the Canterbury District Health Board today. This memo is from Mark Leggett, the general manager of the medical and surgical division of the Canterbury District Health Board: “The facts of the matter are that we are constrained by the availability of relief, locum, and agency staff cover.”, but, as set out in his memo of 12 March 2008: “The DHB will continue to prioritise leave for things like family events, weddings, and medical education.” That does not amount to a cancellation of all leave as stated by the Christchurch Press, Mr Key’s favourite paper.
Sue MoroneyHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The number of funded places in New Zealand medical schools has increased twice in the last 27 years—both times under a Labour-led Government. In 2004 the Government announced an increase of 40 medical students, and a further 40 places were announced this year, bringing the total from 285 per annum in 1999 to 365 this year.
Does the Minister realise that this situation, like that at Wanganui, is a symptom of Labour’s neglect of the hospital staffing crisis over the last few years, and means that New Zealand is losing more and more doctors and nurses overseas when they are desperately needed to provide quality health services here at home?
Heather RoyDoes the Minister believe that denying junior doctors their annual leave, as happened at the Hutt Valley District Health Board at the end of last year, is an acceptable way of managing widespread staff vacancies; and what exactly is he doing to stop the now entrenched practice of our training junior doctors and health professionals for export?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
It is a time-honoured tradition that young New Zealanders, especially recent graduates, travel overseas. It is also true that, for years on end, most of them have come back again. The aggregate vacancy rates in 2007 were little different from those in 1999.
Is the Minister aware that because of the staffing crisis at Wellington Hospital, one in every 10 beds there is closed; and why does he remain in denial about the health workforce crisis?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
One is well aware of the various issues at the Capital and Coast District Health Board. I am sure the junior doctors would not thank the member opposite for laying them all at their door.
Has he read any of the 43 reports on workforce shortages that have been produced by endless bureaucrats and committees since Labour came to office; and does he not realise that New Zealanders will not take any comfort from the promise of yet another committee, coming as it does from Labour’s third Minister of Health in less than 3 years?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes. It is always good to hear from the member, as long as he remains National’s health spokesman.
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
Why does the Minister not understand that in a few years’ time, when more and more people are not able to get surgery because of staffing shortages, the public are going to realise that Labour allowed the rot to set in with 9 years of endless reports, committees, and total inaction?
Madam SPEAKERHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes, Madam Speaker. There are occasionally more vacancies because under this Government there are more positions for physicians. In fact, no fewer than 2,240 medical personnel have been employed since 1999.