11. Question No. 11—HealthMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 11—Health11. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions with regard to mental health?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): Yes.Matt Doocey: When he said today the five extra acute beds were fictitious because there is no single bed as a result of the $1.9 billion." could he please clarify for the House: is the number of extra acute beds zero or five?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The only thing fictitious is about some of that member's assertions. The point is this: that member and others have said that as a consequence of the $1.9 billion investment in 2019 five beds have been added to acute mental health services. That simply is not correct and we know that's not correct because that member also says that the $235 million provided for in the $1.9 billion programme for acute mental health service facility builds has not seen a commencement of any of the builds. The extra beds that have been provided for acute mental health services in the last two or three years are as a result of the increased ring-fenced funding to DHBs as they improve their mental health facilities. Those beds have been added and more beds will be added as a consequence of the other investments including the $1.9 billion investment that this Government has made because this Government takes mental health seriously.Matt Doocey: Well in light of that answer around accuracy of information why did he say yesterday the 38-bed Counties Manukau mental health facility didn't open until 2020 when in fact the then health Minister David Clark opened it in November 2008 just three years after National started building it?SPEAKER: 2018.Matt Doocey: Oh sorry—2018.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Well I refer to the information or the advice I've received that that facility opened in September 2020. In fact shortly after I became the Minister of Health I was asked to be part of a formal opening ceremony. It wasn't possible at the time that the DHB wanted it but that facility I am advised was functional and effective from September 2020.Matt Doocey: When he told media he had "regular weekly meetings" with health officials about mental health has he been asking at these meetings for an update on building new facilities or why next to no money had been spent?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It is simply incorrect to say that next to no money has been spent on mental health facilities. If the member is referring to the $235 million which is part of the $1.9 billion programme that was approved in the 2019 Budget I can tell that member that the DHBs where the mental health upgrades are happening have spent in excess of $9 million in doing the planning and preparation so far of the rebuild and upgrades of their facilities.Hon Peeni Henare: Can the Minister confirm that mental health funding for kaupapa Māori initiatives to stop Māori ending up in acute mental services has been successful under this Government and there are more opportunities in the coming months?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I can confirm that new funding additional funding has been provided to a number of kaupapa Māori health services specifically for mental health and addiction services and the advice I've received is that that is making a material difference to many whānau right now.Matt Doocey: Why did he say that Mental Health Foundation CEO Shaun Robinson was wrong to say the Government had no plan for mental health when just this morning he himself said "I want to know what the plan ahead looks like and I just don't have that reassurance from the ministry yet." and will he apologise to Shaun Robinson?SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member knows that's out of order doesn't he? He can count to two. I'll let the Minister answer it. In future I'll consider it disorderly if the member asks a question like that again.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: What I confirmed today is that the long-term plan which was requested by the outgoing Health and Disability Commissioner for mental health as well as called for by the interim Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is now under consultation. That is a good long-term plan and it will give great confidence to the sector and to all New Zealanders."