3. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Does he have confidence in the public health system, and why?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) Link to this
Yes, and how nice it is to have a Government question asked by a member of the Opposition. Just yesterday nationwide patient satisfaction stats were published, with a near record figure of 88.5 percent of patients very satisfied with the service they received. The same survey reported that 100 percent of patients in triage 1—the most serious category of emergency care—were treated immediately. In October last year an independent evaluation of the Labour-led Government’s Primary Health Care Strategy showed a 24 percent increase in consultation rates for older New Zealanders. And there is so much more good news.
Would the Minister support an Auditor-General inquiry into the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s handling of conflicts of interest, when in the Health Committee this morning the chief executive, Chris Clarke, confirmed that no other tenderer had been given access to the tender documents that Mr Hausmann received and changed in his favour?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Unlike the member, I respect the integrity and independence of the Auditor-General. Any such decision is for the Auditor-General to make. But I note in passing that the member opposite managed to leave the select committee the moment people started talking about health care.
Jill PettisI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I believe that the member Mr Ryall has reported what went on at the select committee this morning in regard to that question slightly inaccurately. The chief executive, after repeated questions from Mr Ryall, said he took no part in that process. He did not say what the member has just implied.
Madam SPEAKER
Lesley SoperHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes. Just today we launched the Autism Spectrum Disorder Guidelines—a world first. The orthopaedic initiative has funded over 8,000 hip and knee replacements. The cataract initiative has funded cataract surgery for 4,174 New Zealanders. In the last year 112,507 New Zealanders have received elective surgery. Four million people now benefit from primary health organisation enrolments. And 74 percent of children under 6 get free doctors’ visits. There is so much more good news. I have just had a petition from 600 women in south Canterbury thanking us for breast screening.
Is the Minister satisfied that when questioned about Audit New Zealand’s extraordinary criticism of Mr Clarke for failing to comply with the board’s own procurement policies or public sector good practice, Mr Clarke told the select committee that he would have to “take that on the chin” and that he would put it in “his learnings paper”; how accountable is that?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I have the greatest respect for the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General, but I have rather less respect for that member’s recollection of select committee proceedings.
Is it acceptable for district health board management to be working with a favoured tenderer behind the scenes, which no other tenderer knew about, and surely there should be more accountability for behaviour like this than sticking it in a “learnings paper”?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
That is a question the member might want to address to former chairman Kevin Atkinson, who I understand has a brother with some interest in Royston Hospital, for which a $600,000 contract was apparently not tendered.
Should the Auditor-General not inquire into this matter, when the chairman has been investigated and dismissed, and Mr Hausmann has been investigated and not reappointed, but not one person in management has been scrutinised by the Minister’s review panel for his or her involvement in breaching the board’s own policies and guidelines, and when the chief executive who oversaw all of this is still sitting there in his job?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I understand that the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General is consulting with all relevant parties, including the member. He will have had the opportunity to put his case to the office in private. It is quite clear that ultimate responsibility for management rested with the board—
Hon Dr Nick SmithHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
—and now rests with the commissioner. I understand from the commissioner—and it was made clear to the select committee this morning—that he is satisfied that management can now implement the strategic direction he has put in place. I challenge the member: what is it about sustainable health-care for the people of Hawke’s Bay that he does not want?
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
How believable is it that the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s email files for the first half of May were undamaged, for early June were undamaged, but for the crucial 2 weeks when Chris Clarke and Peter Hausmann were colluding on the tender document via email were mysteriously damaged beyond repair—how implausibly convenient is that?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
It appears that the apprentice health spokesperson is raking over some rather old coals, which did not seem to be of sufficient interest to the independent review panel for its members to make salient in their report. Disagreeing with the conclusion of an independent report does not give a member of Parliament the right to undermine it.
I seek leave to table a petition from 600 women in south Canterbury who want to say thanks.