8. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What are the reasons why he is threatening to dismiss the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board and replace it with a commissioner?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) Link to this
I have written to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board outlining my reasons for being seriously dissatisfied with its performance. That letter is in the public domain, and I am happy to table it. However, until due process is completed I will not be making a decision, nor making further substantive comment, on that issue.
Is it not a fact that this Minister has manufactured a list of grievances against the Hawke’s Bay District Board in an attempt to divert public attention from the hospital failures report and the Owen Glenn affair, and to take out the critics of his whitewash inquiry into Annette King’s involvement with this board?
Barbara StewartDoes the Minister consider that the level of confrontation that has arisen in his dealings with the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is the best way to deal with the board’s difficulties; if not, can he assure us that the seeming impasse will be resolved as quickly as possible and with a minimum of trial by media?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Clearly, this level of confrontation is not assisting the health care delivery to the people of Hawke’s Bay, and it is for exactly the reasons that the member suggests that I have asked all parties to refrain from public comment.
Craig FossHow can the Minister cite last month’s letter from the Auditor-General to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board as a reason, when in that letter the Auditor-General does not give a poor grading to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board for any measure and does not recommend any major improvements that need urgent attention for any aspects, and when that same letter reminds the Minister that the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board received an unqualified audit opinion for its 2006-07 accounts?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Given that in every category that was reviewed in the audit in question the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board received the rating “needs improvement”, I ask what part of the member’s early education he can now not remember?
Darien FentonCan the Minister elaborate on his concerns about tensions between clinicians in the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I do not need to do so when a number of clinicians have been on Radio New Zealand National this morning outlining their concerns for themselves.
Chris TremainWhy is the Minister ignoring an unprecedented letter in support of the board from the five Hawke’s Bay mayors who represent over 150,000 citizens, ignoring the many senior doctors who have come forward to support the board, and ignoring the Hawke’s Bay voters who elected the board just 4 short months ago; and why is it a case of the Minister versus Hawke’s Bay?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
First, because I care more about the health care standards of the people of Hawke’s Bay than I do about local politics; second, because I have heard the many voices of senior clinicians and others who are saying all is not well in the state of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.
How can the Minister cite the deteriorating deficit at the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board as a reason to dismiss the entire board, when its members were elected by the people of Hawke’s Bay only 4 short months ago, when most other district health boards are facing deficits, and when he did not sack the Capital and Coast District Health Board, which is facing a far more serious deficit?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Firstly, I repeat to the House that no decision has been made and that I have given the board a week to justify its position. Secondly, the position with the Capital and Coast District Health Board is not analogous. The issues there were at the clinical and management level. The issues here are quite squarely, it would appear, at the governance level, and that is what will be sorted out.
Could the Minister explain why, when Capital and Coast District Health Board was facing a huge deficit, severe clinical criticism, and an audit report that said it needed improvement in every category—and without any public support—he decided to keep it, but when it comes to a district health board enjoying the wide support of its own community and clinicians, he wants to give that one the chop?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
In the first place, if I recall correctly, that member accused me of being rather Draconian in the case of the Capital and Coast District Health Board. It is interesting that he has now changed his tune. In the second place, much as I have not made a decision, it may be possible that I have a little more information to hand than some of the residents of that beautiful province.
I seek leave to table the letter from the Auditor-General to the Minister of Health, in which there is not one item rated “4”.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seek leave to table my letter of 20 February 2008 to the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.