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: Why have solitary confinement rates increased in mental health inpatient facilities despite the $1.9 billion announced for mental health and what is his response to the Chief Ombudsman who said about his recent mental health reports the Ministry of Health needs to answer to you and the public as to what it's done with the taxpayers' money"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health) (remote): In response to the first part of the member's question solitary confinement in mental health facilities occurs under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. There are some patients who for their own safety and the safety of others must be kept apart from others. That's why there is independent clinical oversight and given its age why also we are repealing and replacing that dated legislation. It's not correct that solitary confinement rates are increasing. This is confirmed in the most recent report from the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The Budget 2019 investment that the member refers to principally addresses the major gap in our mental health services offering in primary care. It's a five-year programme due to be completed in 2024 and has so far resulted in more than 900 front-line roles in 341 GP practices covering about 46 percent of the enrolled population. It's provided for the delivery of about 380000 sessions and almost 22000 people were seen in March alone receiving 12 therapies. All of these services were not available to New Zealanders two years ago. In response to the second part of the member's question the Ombudsman's statement appears in a media article in reference to a MidCentral DHB mental health facility that's scheduled for an upgrade. This Government has committed to a number of mental health facility upgrades as a consequence of the years of neglect of those facilities under the previous Government. In relation to MidCentral the new facility is in the final design stage and I expect construction to commence late this year. All mental health infrastructure projects are the subject of routine oversight and monitoring by Treasury and the Health Infrastructure Unit and good progress is being made.Matt Doocey: Why does he think there have been so many questions asked recently about where the money has gone for mental health? SPEAKER: I'll let the Minister answer it. I'm not sure that there is a responsibility for that.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Well many questions have been asked particularly by that member and some of his colleagues and I think the reason is that some people just don't listen.Matt Doocey: So the mental health sector who are asking where the money has gone are not listening?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: My contact with many people in the mental health sector is that they are fully aware of the reviews of the 2019 $1 billion programme; reviews that have been conducted by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Implementation Unit; the reviews conducted by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission the independent monitor of mental health services in this country; and a range of others and they're fully confident of where the money is going.Matt Doocey: Who does the Minister think the public believes is not listening—the mental health sector or the health Minister?SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to give the member a chance to rephrase that to get something he is responsible for and general public views isn't one of them. Matt Doocey: Is he aware of the Chief Ombudsman's comments that "This really is a matter for the Ministry of Health. They are the stewards of the taxpayers' money to oversee and implement acceptable mental health practice. They're not doing it." and why do we now have another damning mental health report about his ministry?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Well I refer the member to the Ombudsman's comments specifically about ward 21 in Palmerston North Hospital which is the MidCentral facility that I think is at the centre of the member's question. He noted the improvements in that facility. He reported that clients were positive about their treatment and care on the ward and had positive relationships with staff. The Ombudsman was positive about that facility. He was concerned as indeed we all are with the physical facilities. That's why this Government has invested in upgrading not just the five facilities as part of the 2019 package but a range of other facilities. That means we now have an extensive mental health infrastructure programme that is making progress to improve the therapeutic environment which many of our acute mental health patients are in. Matt Doocey: Why has only 2 percent been spent of the $75 million announced almost three years ago for the three new mental health inpatient facility sites recently visited by the Chief Ombudsman?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The mental health infrastructure programme is well under way. The first thing that has to happen with any medical facility is that it has to be well designed. Those design processes are reaching their conclusion. I might add for the member's benefit because he's been confused about this before that there is a difference between the drawdown of capital spending that DHBs—as is currently the case—make for capital works and what they themselves spend. They spend ahead of the drawdown and that is the case with most of these mental health infrastructure projects.Matt Doocey: In light of that answer why is the Minister not aware that the 2 percent figure I gave him was the actual spend—the drawdown is only 1 percent—and is this another example of the Minister not over his detail and not knowing that mental health inpatient facilities have stalled?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The member is just incorrect in his assertions about the mental health infrastructure projects. They are progressing. The final design stage is in place for all but one of the projects and the one that it isn't is the Waikato facility which is about to go for its final approval to the Capital Investment Committee. But I am confident that good progress is being made with all of the projects.SPEAKER: Question No. 12—Jan Logie.Matt Doocey: A point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table a document—what's the word I'm looking for?—put together by my office—SPEAKER: Well I think the member stops right there because a number of Speakers have ruled that documents put together by members or their offices are not documents for tabling in the House. I think we've had at least three Speakers rule that—not me. But I'm going to—Matt Doocey: It's a shame. It would help the Minister a lot. SPEAKER: The member will stand withdraw and apologise. Matt Doocey: Withdraw and apologise."