3. Hon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Does he stand by all his statements on health services?
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) Link to this
Yes, including the fact that the Labour Government left district health boards delivering over $150 million of unfunded health services, including the MidCentral District Health Board providing around $10 million in services that her Government did not fund.
What explanation can he offer to the Greater Auckland Integrated Health Network, which has now quit the planned integrated family health centres, saying that despite their being central to the National Government’s restructuring of primary health care, it has totally given up on creating them because his Government is offering no money to help set them up?
The member is well aware that the Government believes that integrated family health centres will be developed by the private sector.
How do his statements tally with the Wanganui Chronicle report that half the people in Wanganui who are waiting to have ultrasound scans have now been told to look elsewhere as the health board tries to clear a log-jammed waiting list?
There is an issue in Wanganui, resulting from the district health board’s difficulty in recruiting an additional sonographer. Some weeks ago I rang both the chair and the chief executive officer, and I was advised that of the referrals, all urgent and maternity cases are being dealt with. Those cases that fall outside the thresholds are being reviewed to see whether there is an alternative diagnostic approach or whether they still need such an assessment. This is not unusual, and happened under the previous Government.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Why will Horowhenua and Ōtaki residents face a cut to the access they had to assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation beds at the Horowhenua Health Centre before the change of Government?
Only days ago members opposite were telling the people in that community that all the beds would be closed. In fact, the proposal from the district health board is to maintain the same number of beds providing service for patients in Horowhenua. The challenges of the MidCentral District Health Board do not stem from any cuts to funding by the new Government. We have given the district health board an increase of $26 million this year, or 7 percent, which is one of the largest increases in the country, and there will be a significant increase again in the Budget. The board’s challenge arises from Labour’s legacy of mismanagement, leaving up to $10 million of unfunded services that the board is working hard to fill.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
How is the Government filling the gap of over $150 million of unfunded services that it inherited from the previous Government?
The Government is working hard with district health boards to deal with the legacy that we inherited, of $150 million of unfunded services. This year the Government invested an extra $536 million in district health boards up and down the country, and funding next year will put health on a record unprecedented by the failed crowd opposite.
Iain Lees-Galloway Link to this
How is allowing MidCentral District Health Board to cut overnight—[ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERI apologise to the member, but I ask his front-bench colleagues—more than one of them—to please show some courtesy to their own colleague.
Iain Lees-Galloway Link to this
How is allowing MidCentral District Health Board to cut overnight district nursing services better for people who are dying and wish to pass away with dignity in their own home?
In relation to the overnight district nursing service, I have spoken to the chair and senior management at MidCentral District Health Board, and they assure me that alternative treatment plans will be put in place and people will be looked after. The service will also continue to work with the local Arohanui Hospice, which received an increase of around $300,000 extra this financial year. The district health board’s challenges do not stem from any reduction in funding by the new Government. We have given the district health board an extra $26 million this year.
Does Bill English’s comment to Grey Power that he knew their pain about home support cuts because his wife forced him to clean their bathroom reflect his view of cuts to home support for the elderly as well?
Of course there will be difficult cases throughout this process, but I say to the member that if there are cases she would like me to look at as a result of these changes, I ask her to please forward them. I am advised that to date we have not received any advice from Ms Dyson on any of the cases she has raised in Parliament on this issue.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
I seek leave to table a document from the MidCentral District Health Board that outlines a proposal to cut 24 assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation beds in response to a lack of funding from the National Government.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I seek leave to table a document asking for further financial support on behalf of Bill English for the cleaning of his house.