8. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What reports has he received on elective surgery, and what do these show?
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) Link to this
I have received a number of reports involving elective surgery. The reports confirm that the number of patients receiving elective surgery actually fell in real terms from 2001 to 2007-08. This means waiting lists would have grown significantly if the then Government had not culled thousands of patients from the waiting lists and made it harder to get surgery.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
What do these reports say about the amount of elective general surgery provided to New Zealand patients?
General surgery was one of the specialties that saw the greatest cuts to patient services. Despite a doubling of the health budget in the last 9 years, the number of patients who received elective general surgery annually actually fell by seven. So the health budget doubled, and fewer people got elective general surgery.
Hon Ruth DysonWhat further services is the Minister prepared to let district health boards cut as a direct result of his letter of expectation?
This Government stands for improving front-line services to patients. I fully expect that there will be some programmes in the health services that will be reduced or removed so that services can go into patients’ front-line care.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
How can access to elective surgery have got worse in so many specialties when the health budget nearly doubled, and what can be done to improve access?