5. LESLEY SOPER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What recent reports has he received on investment in health infrastructure?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) Link to this
Today I announced the approval of an $80 million revamp for Taranaki Base Hospital. This revamp is the latest in a large hospital development and rebuilding programme—the largest in New Zealand’s history. Since Labour took office seven new hospitals have been built and eight have had major upgrades. Ten specialist facilities have been built, three more redevelopment projects are almost complete, and a further four major capital projects have been approved and are under way. What a great Labour-led Government!
How does spending on hospital capital upgrades under the current Labour-led Government’s tenure compare with the spending under previous administrations?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
It is more than three times the previous National Government spend. Over $1.5 billion has been invested in 33 building projects that will benefit patients from Kaitāia to the deep south, including a major rebuild of Auckland Hospital, a new base hospital for Invercargill, a new base hospital in the Wairarapa, a new women’s hospital in Christchurch, a new hospital in South Taranaki, a new hospital in central Otago, the new Horowhenua health centre—the list could go on and on. How about the National Party fronting up and revealing its secret phone book - sized agenda for health so that the public can compare the difference?
Dr Jonathan Coleman Link to this
When will the Minister deliver on the Government’s broken promise to rebuild and replace ward 27, Wellington’s inadequate and outdated psychiatric unit, and how many more suicides in the community will there be before this Minister stops bragging and takes action?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The Government has invested significantly in mental health facilities around the country, including the new facilities in the region of the member’s own district health board—the Waitemata District Health Board. The decisions about the Wellington-based hospital are a matter for the Capital and Coast District Health Board.