Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7227] 
10.  
Dr LYNDA SCOTT (NZ National—Kaikoura) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Why 5 years after the National Review of Paediatric Specialty Services does New Zealand still have only three paediatric neurologists and no nationwide integrated service? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Contrary to the member’s assertion in her question the first time a specialist neurology service was proposed was in 1994-95 according to Dr Nick Baker the President of the Paediatric Society. For 4 years until the national review of paediatric services nothing was done. On becoming the Government our first priority was to establish a nationwide oncology and metabolics service for children—both recommendations from the review. Work is now proceeding rapidly on an integrated paediatric neurology service. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why are New Zealand children with complex seizures cancer and other complex neurological conditions being subject to huge delays in obtaining specialist assessment because this Government has failed to act on any of the recommendations of the paediatric specialist services review unlike Bill English—not this Government but Bill English—who when he was Minister immediately funded and established the nationwide paediatric oncology service? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The member’s memory is poor. In 2000 the paediatric oncology service started to be funded. In fact the review said there ought to be one oncology service in New Zealand based at Starship Children’s Hospital. I rejected that and said there needed to be oncology services in Wellington Christchurch and Auckland. That is what happened. However the establishment of paediatric neurology services has been slower. The reason as Dr Jan White said this morning is not funding; it is a human resource shortage. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What are some of the constraints in the provision of nationwide integrated paediatric neurology services other than those mentioned by Jan? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: One of the first things that needed to happen was the establishment of the guidelines for such an integrated service. I would like the House to note that it took 5 years from 1995 to 2000 to draw up the guidelines for paediatric oncology—that has been one of the constraints. There is also an international shortage of paediatric neurologists. The Auckland District Health Board has been advertising for 1 year to fill a vacancy. 
Heather Roy 
: In relation to the Paediatric Society’s tertiary services review which declared that all children should have the same level of access to specialised paediatric services as adult patients have to specialised adult services why is she still overseeing a near crisis after 4 years in the job; or is Dr Ross Wilson a paediatrician at Wellington Hospital correct in saying: “Annette King has finally admitted that to her children’s health needs are not as important as adult health needs.”? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: That is incorrect. This Minister has been very committed to children’s health services. The Well Child Framework has proceeded very quickly under this Government including funding to go with it and the establishment of the paediatric oncology and metabolic service. However I do believe we can do more for children in New Zealand and we are committed to that. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Given the acute shortage of paediatric neurologists and lack of any integrated service how is the health service coping with the increase in reported childhood autism cases in New Zealand and does the ministry have an integrated nationwide service for diagnosing and treating autism? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I am unable to answer that question. I would bow to my colleague the Minister for Disability Issues who has done considerable work on autism. If I remember correctly there is an autism service—one service for all children. The Minister for Disability Issues would be able to give the member a fuller answer on that. 
Judy Turner 
: Can the Minister confirm whether the Ministry of Health is committed to providing funding for paediatric speciality services for children suffering from epilepsy to provide both support and education programmes to promote epilepsy awareness in the same way as is done with diabetes and asthma education awareness; if not why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Each district health board now is funded for the services that it is to provide within its district. The district health boards have the ability to fund education services for not only epilepsy but also a whole range of conditions that face children and adults. That is where the decision needs to be made. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why are child health experts warning that this specialist service is on the verge of collapse with two and a half specialists doing the work of eight with a child specialist having to travel to Auckland from Christchurch which places an intolerable workload pressure on him such that he will burn out and with children in Wellington Otago and Northland having very little access to a service; and if the Ministry of Health’s chief paediatric adviser says the service should be organised nationally when will she show some leadership and ensure this happens rather than passing the buck to the 21 district health boards? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I certainly have not passed the buck to the 21 district health boards. One of the reasons that Dr Jan White is leading this work is that her district health board is the lead district health board and is pulling together the work for all of New Zealand so that there will be an integrated service. I am pleased that this progress is being made under this Government. After all I have pointed out that the issue was first raised in 1994 and was neglected for 6 years under a National Government. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Is it not a ridiculous situation when there is clearly a pressing need for New Zealand children to have equal access through a nationwide service contract that she is insisting on the 21 district health boards sorting out the problem when all that the 21 district health boards are responsible for and funded for is their local areas; and when will she act to provide New Zealand children with adequate and equal access across New Zealand? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That question was too long; there were three parts to it. The Hon Annette King can answer two of them. 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I will say that the member is wrong in practically everything she said.