5. Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What has been the percentage change in Vote Health funding from calendar year 2001 to 2007, and what has been the percentage change in surgical first specialist assessments over that same period?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) Link to this
As the member should be aware, Government spending is reported by financial year, not by calendar year. I am advised that total operational expenditure on Vote Health increased by 70 percent between the 2001 and 2007 financial years. A lot of that investment has been in the primary health care area, where the cost of visiting a general practitioner has fallen dramatically and most prescriptions now cost no more than $3. I am advised that in the same time frame the number of surgical first specialist assessments remained relatively static.
If the health budget has increased by 70 percent since 2001, why has the number of surgical first specialist assessments, the gateway to surgery, in fact fallen by 3 percent?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
If that member would do his homework and read a press release put out in October of last year, he would find there is a clear explanation of why first specialist assessments are not the same as elective procedures. Can I read out an explanation for that member: “Better assessment in primary care before people are referred for a FSA”—a first specialist assessment—“the introduction of GPs as liaison staff within hospitals and greater awareness of the threshold for surgery mean the number of FSAs is also naturally falling.” For example, in the Canterbury District Health Board area alone, although there has been a 100 percent increase in hip and knee replacements, from 550 to 1,100, since 2004, that has been achieved with a reduced number of first specialist assessments being required. Can the member not understand what happens in the health system?
Lesley SoperCan the Minister confirm that notwithstanding Mr Ryall’s constant attempts to undermine the health system, the number of elective surgeries has in fact increased under this Labour-led Government; if so, by how many?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
The facts speak for themselves. Last year alone there were over 7,000 more elective surgery discharges than in the previous year. That is a significant change under this Labour-led Government. The question that we really should be putting in this House is: what is the National Party’s health policy, and which parts of it, when its members finally announce it, will they change, either before the election or, indeed, after the election? What do they stand for, in terms of health care?
How can it possibly be that despite spending an extra $5.5 billion, fewer people are getting to see a surgical specialist than saw one 8 years ago?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
Can the member not understand English? The simple fact is that through better systems, the numbers who are getting to see those specialists are going on to have more surgery because there is a better vetting system in the primary system before they get there. We are indeed making the system more efficient. With that money we have put in place seven new hospitals, and eight other hospital campuses have been redeveloped. We have 4,000 more nurses and over 1,000 more doctors than we had when Labour took over in 1999. Home-based support has gone up by 250 percent—I can go on and on. The question is: which parts of the system will National change, and what, indeed, is its policy in regard to the public health system?
How does the Minister of Health explain why, if there are 1,000 extra doctors under the Labour Government and it has spent an extra $5.5 billion, fewer New Zealanders are getting to see those doctors and getting surgical appointments; is that because there are another 2,200 hospital bureaucrats?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
That is—as we often hear from the National Party—completely inaccurate. More people are getting to see doctors in this country. There are better assessment systems and procedures before those people are referred to specialists. So of the number of people who get to see specialists, more go on to have successful procedures and elective surgery discharges.
I seek leave to table a document that shows thousands fewer New Zealanders are getting to see a hospital specialist—a schedule.
Madam SPEAKERHon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
I seek leave to table a press release of 5 October 2007, which clearly explains for that member’s benefit, why in fact—