7. Health Services—Air Ambulance CoverageHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthHealth Services—Air Ambulance Coverage7. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied with the Request for Proposals process for air ambulance helicopter services being run by the Ministry of Health?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): I'm satisfied with the request for proposal (RFP) process which was set up in May 2016 by the previous National Government. I'm satisfied that the process is driven by a desire to improve clinical outcomes for patients but I have also been clear that I was not satisfied with early communication and engagement with local communities.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is he concerned that the 70-nautical-mile coverage set out in the RFP excludes large tourist areas of the southern South Island and that this will be made worse by the absence of a base in Te Ānau?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: What I am committed to is the best clinical outcomes for patients. All parts of New Zealand will continue to receive air ambulance services.Hon Todd McClay: Thank you Mr Speaker. Is he concerned that the identified bases in the RFP excludes Rotorua Taupō and Te Ānau and will he commit to asking his ministry to explicitly amend the tender document in the same way that he did for the Gisborne base?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm not clear on the additional leg the member's added to the question but I want people to know that this process is driven by concern to improve clinical outcomes for patients and the process is still open.Hon Louise Upston: What does the Minister say to the thousands of people who have protested in the streets sent emails and signed petitions concerned about the loss of life that would occur if the Taupō air ambulance service was removed and also to the hard-working members of the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust in Whitianga who were today visited by the—SPEAKER: Order! The member's question has finished. Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The average age of the air ambulance fleet is 29 years old. That hasn't happened overnight. The previous Government ought to have put its money where its mouth was but what I do want to say is that every district health board needs to have a sustainable high quality ambulance service no matter how big or small the population that they support.Angie Warren-Clark: How has the Minister personally intervened to improve engagement with local communities?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm not a Minister who will shy away from difficult conversations. That's why I met with a group of regional mayors last month to listen to their concerns and reassure them about aspects of the process. Because those relationships are important to me those conversations with the mayors are ongoing. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Would he be concerned to learn that at least one helicopter trust is already reporting a reluctance by traditional benefactors to donate to them due to the possibility that the service could be operated by an overseas provider given that if that happened it would almost certainly result in a greater cost to the Crown?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am concerned that we have a quality air ambulance service that delivers improved clinical outcomes for patients into the future.Hon Michael Woodhouse: In that case can he commit to the people of regional New Zealand that the air ambulance service timeliness and quality will not be diminished in the new contracting framework?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The new contracting framework is precisely designed to improve clinical outcomes for patients.