Lotu-Iiga Sam: Annual Review Debate — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLotu-Iiga Sam: Annual Review Debate — In Committee[Sitting date: 28 April 2015. Volume:704;Page:2975. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Associate Minister of Health):Thank you Mr Chairperson and thank you for the opportunity to take a call in this annual review debate. Tonight I am just going to touch on the health portfolio for which I am the Associate Minister of Health. In the 2013-14 year this Government spent $14.9 billion on health. That is more than at any other time in our history—more than when David Cunliffe was the Minister of Health and more than when Annette King was the Minister of Health. But it is not just about spending money—it is not about spending money. That side of the House thinks that it is just about spending more and more of taxpayers’ money on Government services. No this is about results for patients. It is about quality spending. It is about the well-being of New Zealanders in order to have a better quality of life.Clare Curran: Where? Where?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I am going to get to that Ms Curran. I will get to it. And it is about some of the promises that we made when we became the Government in 2008. What did we say?Hon Simon Bridges: Tell us.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: What did we say Mr Bridges? Do you remember? We said: “More front-line police.” We said: “More nurses on the front line.” We said: “More doctors.” We said: “More front-line services.” And that is what we did. So we know that in health in 2014 there were 1000 fewer managers than when we took over the Treasury benches. We know that there were over 1000 more doctors. And we also know that there were 3000 extra nurses when we took over. You see it is also about meeting health targets. It is about outcomes. It is not about activity; it is about outcomes. And in terms of immunisation in the 2014 financial year the target for 8-month-old children was 90 percent—90 percent for immunisation. And what did we achieve during that financial year? 92 percent. We met the targets. On the promises that we made to the people of New Zealand: we achieved those targets.The Hon Tony Ryall also set a target for an increase in elective surgeries of 4000 patients per annum—4000 patients per annum. And what did we achieve in 2014?Alfred Ngaro: Tell us.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I will tell you Mr Ngaro. It was 7300 in terms of extra elective surgeries in 2014.What else is it about? It is about bringing our services closer to home—services closer to home. When I was at the Counties Manukau District Health Board last week—and I encourage members across the aisle to go and visit the clinics to go and visit the health boards—it had a Quit Bus. The Quit Bus is about taking services on smoking cessation out to our communities—where they live where they congregate and where they work. That is what this Government stands for: services closer to home. It is also about strengthening our health workforce. As the Minister for Pacific Peoples I am proud of the fact that we have implemented a scholarship scheme the Aniva Scholarships—over $1 million—in order to promote the participation of Pacific people in the health workforce so that they can contribute meaningfully to health services in this country. I am proud of that and I know that the National Party is proud of that.Ms King is here and she asked about what we were doing for Pacific and Māori health. In terms of rheumatic fever we know that rheumatic fever has been a problem over the years and that it largely affects Māori and Pacific people. We have invested $65 million over 6 years to combat rheumatic fever. Guess how much money Ms King as the health Minister put in on this particular issue. Guess how much. A big fat doughnut—a big fat doughnut. She made no spending in this area. Guess what happened. Here are the outcomes. Here are the results. Here are the results. In 2013 there were 194 cases of rheumatic fever. One year later after applying resources there were 153 cases that were reported. So that is a drop of 25 percent. That is what a Government that is committed to quality health services can achieve. It is also about the work of cross-agencies. Mr Twyford was there talking about housing. Guess what. This Government has insulated 300000 houses and has spent $2 billion on accommodation support. That is what makes a difference.So I say to those Labour members: “Stand up and stand on your record. Stand on your record.” This Government has done more for Pasifika and more for people in the health services than any other Government in history.