7. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What has been the response to the Government’s voluntary bonding scheme for graduate doctors, nurses, and midwives?
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) Link to this
In February the Government announced the launch of its voluntary bonding scheme offering student-loan write-offs or cash payments for doctors, nurses, and midwives to work in a number of hard-to-staff specialities and locations. We expected up to 100 doctors and 250 midwives and nurses combined to apply for the scheme, or 350 in total. In fact, we have received over double that number of registrations—893 in total.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
What decisions have been made as to how many of these 893 health professionals who have registered an interest will be accepted, given that that is over double the number anticipated?
The Government has decided that it will confirm all applications under the voluntary bonding scheme, and we will be writing to every one of the 893 doctors, nurses, and midwives accordingly. The Government has made the decision to accept over double the number initially expected, because we want to further encourage our young doctors, nurses, and midwives to stay in this country.
Hon Ruth DysonIn congratulating the Minister on that initiative, can I also ask him to acknowledge his giving with one hand and taking away with the other in respect of his Budget’s slashing of $98 million worth of scholarships, in respect of which the New Zealand Medical Students’ Association said: “With fewer scholarships available to students, we’re only going to see higher levels of student debt. Debt has consistently been shown to have an adverse impact on the New Zealand medical workforce.”?
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that the Minister may have had a long week, but it is only Thursday, and I really implore you to ask him to address the question.
Mr SPEAKERThe dilemma, I say to the honourable member in all good faith, is that it was difficult to discern the question, so it is very difficult for me. I have demonstrated I am prepared to ask Ministers to answer questions where they are clear. But it was more a statement that the Minister responded to than a question, so I fear I cannot assist the member further on that.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Is this the final size and coverage of the voluntary bonding scheme; if not, what other changes might be made?
Hon Paula BennettYes, that is a very good question. There will be another intake of the scheme next year, which will mean even more young graduate doctors, nurses, and midwives will be offered student-loan write-offs, or cash payments, to stay in the country. When first announcing the scheme, the Government said that the hard-to-staff areas would change over time to meet the changing needs. I think it is very important to be clear that in the significant announcement made today there are no guarantees that all applicants will qualify for a payment or write-off at the end of their 3 to 5 years; that depends on how they manage their careers within the positions available in the country.
When the Minister heard the response of the New Zealand Medical Students’ Association to his Budget slashing $98 million in scholarships, which was that that would have an adverse impact on the New Zealand medical workforce, what was his response?
There has been no slashing of scholarships within the health sector. But it does not surprise me that that member would quote those figures, because in the select committee yesterday she was talking about a table that told about a whole lot of cuts in the health system. It was actually a table that stated that that was the extra money that has been voted over the last few years.