3. Health Minister—StatementsBARBARA STEWART (NZ First) to the Minister of HealthHealth Minister—Statements3. BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement regarding the health target update that The improved access to elective surgery target has again been achieved … Delivering more elective surgery remains a key Government priority"?Hon NICKY WAGNER (Minister of Customs) on behalf of the Minister of Health: Yes. Fifty thousand more patients each year are now benefiting from elective surgery than in 2008 and 150000 more patients each year are now benefiting from specialist assessments than in 2008. But there is always a need to do more and that is why the Government has invested $96 million more in the last Budget.Barbara Stewart: With this improved access to elective surgery is the Minister aware of people dying one from a preventable aneurysm while on the wait-list for elective surgery?Hon NICKY WAGNER: Thank you for that information. We obviously want to provide the best possible healthcare for every New Zealander and that is why we have increased the amount of electives and cut the waiting lists.Barbara Stewart: If almost 32000 people were exited as untreated from the wait-list for elective surgery by district health boards in 2014 what is the current figure for the year to date?Hon NICKY WAGNER: The current number of elective surgeries that are happening this year is 172153 but of course we always want to give the best possible service to all New Zealanders so we are investing another $86 million a year.Ron Mark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. New Zealand First has taken some steerage from your guidance over the last—Mr SPEAKER: Can I have a point of order please.Ron Mark: Well the point of order is this: this Minister has had this question laid down for some hours.Mr SPEAKER: Can I have the point—Ron Mark: The question was very specific. It asked how many were exited as untreated for the current year. The Minister has not provided an answer to that. The question is succinct as you have often reminded us it should be. The Minister has had hours—Mr SPEAKER: I think if I can understand the member he is talking about the last supplementary question that has just been asked.Ron Mark: Yes the last supplementary just asked.Mr SPEAKER: The member is surely aware that a supplementary is not something that is presented to a Minister so the Minister has not been aware of it for some hours. [Interruption] Order! I do accept the point that the question may not have been answered but part of the problem was that I could not hear the answer because of the continuous interjection from a fellow colleague of the member who is raising the point of order. So we will have the question again and this time without the chirping from one member I might be able to hear the answer and determine whether it has been addressed.Barbara Stewart: If almost 32000 people were exited as untreated from the wait-list for elective surgery by district health boards in 2014 what is the current figure for the year to date?Hon NICKY WAGNER: The number of elective surgeries that we have done is 172153. Unfortunately I cannot give you the number for those who are exited. Barbara Stewart: If there is improved access to elective surgery can the Minister give an update on the current wait-list of people still waiting for ophthalmology treatment in Dunedin?Hon NICKY WAGNER: What I can tell you in terms of ophthalmology treatment in Dunedin is that we have done 1683 operations in 2016 which is the latest information which is 610 more than were done in 2008.Dr Megan Woods: Answer the question.Mr SPEAKER: I think the answer is that the answer is not known.Barbara Stewart: What action if any is being taken to reduce the elective surgery wait-lists and stop preventable deaths and avoidable permanent disabilities?Hon NICKY WAGNER: What we are doing is increasing the numbers of patients who can get elective surgery—50000 this year. We have given $150000 more for their first specialist treatment and we have invested $96 million more in the Budget."