6. Question No. 6—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 6—Health6. Dr SHANE RETI (National) to the Minister of Health: Are the current shorter stays in emergency department performance metrics published on the Health New Zealand website accurate and what were the figures for Northland in November 2022?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister of Health): This morning I was made aware of incorrect data on the Te Whatu Ora website for November and December 2022. On receipt of this information I called Te Whatu Ora officials into my office this morning for an explanation where they advised me of a publication error in their data. Te Whatu Ora apologised to me for this mistake with an assurance that the underlying data collection collation and assessment is robust and that its pre-publication assurance processes will be strengthened. Officials have informed me that the updated report will be on their website tomorrow. In regards to the second part of the member's question I am advised that the current short stay emergency department performance metric in Northland District in November 2022 was 78.7.Dr Shane Reti: Why earlier this week did she use inaccurate data to say that there was a large improvement in emergency department (ED) wait times in Northland when there was not; and had she even seen the data when she made that comment?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I did not make that comment and media have updated their reporting.Dr Shane Reti: What is her response to Health New Zealand medical director Pete Watson who stated earlier today that the figures were as accurate as we've got them at the moment" but "clearly [are] not accurate"; and has every single performance measure including cancer and surgical wait times been removed from the Health New Zealand website today because of concerns that all of it is inaccurate?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I am aware of those comments and no. As I said in my primary answer the issue with the short stay emergency department target is that there was an error in the publication of the data and that the underlying data used by decision makers in the districts at the national level and by the board was accurate.Dr Shane Reti: Then why have all of the performance metrics been taken down?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I have sought Te Whatu Ora to provide an assurance that their underlying quality-assurance processes are correct. They need to go through that process. They have assured me that they will have the updated shorter stay in emergency department figures available by the end of the day tomorrow.Dr Shane Reti: Is she deliberately inflating the figures to obscure deteriorating ED wait times?Hon Grant Robertson: Point of order Mr Speaker. While I know you adopt a fairly flexible approach with questions that is calling in to question the character of a member and is outside of the Standing Orders.SPEAKER: Yeah that's not the best way to phrase it. One a reasonable New Zealander would take that as meaning that the Minister's making it up so you might want to rephrase the question.Hon Mark Mitchell: They already think that.SPEAKER: Who said that? You did. You know what to do.Hon Mark Mitchell: I withdraw and apologise.Dr Shane Reti: Do you want me to rephrase the question?SPEAKER: Yes.Dr Shane Reti: Are the ED wait time figures being obscured to make them look better than they actually are?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: As I've said there was a publication error and that the underlying data that has been available throughout to decision makers will be made available shortly and Te Whatu Ora has apologised for that error. I have not at all tried to sugar-coat the situations in emergency departments. I have visited three departments since I came into this role. I've seen my former colleagues and the circumstances that they are working in and I want them to know that the Government understands they are under pressure and they were rightfully quite reasonably disappointed by the incorrect reporting of those statements."