King Annette: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKing Annette: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 14 April 2016. Volume:713;Page:10591. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with the comments by the Chief Executive of the Southern District Health Board on Tuesday that “there is clearly an issue with the food otherwise patients would not be complaining”; if not why not?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): I have spoken with the chief executive and I have noted her comments and I expect that if she feels there is a problem she will fix it. She tells me that in the recent survey of 153 patients 75 percent said the food was OK and 25 percent wanted improvements. I had a meal there and I am with the 75 percent. I also accepted that Southern District Health Board is delivering over 2600 more surgical operations than 8 years ago and is steadily turning round a 12-year financial deficit situation.Hon Annette King: If his food experience at Dunedin Hospital was “very good” why have complaints over hospital meals prompted the introduction of “patient experience coordinators” who will patrol wards during and after each meal service acting like some sort of Mr Bumble from Oliver Twist?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I am not aware of that new appointment. What I do know is that if this is question No. 1 on a Thursday we are clearly covering off the big issues pretty well.Hon Annette King: Given that 13 district health boards have not signed up to Compass Group hospital food what are the total revised savings over the 15-year period of the contract minus the $4 million spent on the business case?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: If the member would like to put that down in a written question I would be very happy to give her an answer. What I can say is that there are considerable savings that will help to fund those 50000 extra operations and 110000 appointments a year and make up for the 400 operations that Mrs King cut from—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The last part is not going to help the order of the House. Supplementary question the Hon Jonathan Coleman.Hon Annette King: Can he—yes it is me Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Annette King.Hon Annette King: Thank you Mr Speaker. I do not look like him do I? Can he understand the anger of patients at his penny-pinching at their expense leading to families bringing in meals to Dunedin Hospital—something that happens in Third World countries?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Oh I do not think that patients are angry. As I said 75 percent are happy with the food.Hon Annette King: Is he relieved that Compass Group has now removed the muffin and sausage lunch but should it go further and remove the half-a-burger-bun and runny mince option or the 1½ pie option or the macaroni and mash spread choice for the sake—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Bring the question to a conclusion.Hon Annette King: —of sick patients’ health?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I am just relieved that this is the biggest health issue in New Zealand. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon Annette King: Is he aware that this is a big issue for patients which he minimises and laughs at but they certainly do not so when he said that I should man up and eat the Dunedin Hospital food did he not realise that he was admitting that the food was so damn terrible you had to have courage to eat it?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: No. I am aware that the big issue in Dunedin was the 400 operations that Mrs King cut down there and the 2600 operations extra that we are doing now compared with when we took over from her disastrous regime.