8. Question No. 8—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: How is the wellbeing of cancer patients in New Zealand affected by the Government's policies and actions in health?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): The Wellbeing Budget will help New Zealanders avoid treat live with or recover from cancer in many many ways. We are extending the National Bowel Screening Programme across another four district health boards (DHBs)—an investment of $36 million in detecting an all-too-common cancer. The $2.8 billion uplift in funding for our DHBs will sustain the prevention screening diagnosis and cancer treatment services that New Zealanders deserve. We're moving to make those services better and more consistent through our new cancer action plan. In Budget 2019 we also set aside $1.7 billion in capital spending possibly the largest allocation in health capital ever some of which will support better and more advanced cancer treatment. Let's not forget the terrible toll that a cancer diagnosis can have on people and families. The Wellbeing Budget recognises this reality through a massive expansion in access to primary mental health services. Of course there are many other ways in which this Government is working to better support cancer care but that is a good start for the member's benefit.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Speaking of families has he seen a report of cancer patient Susie Wall-Cade telling the Health Committee of her self-funding Kadcyla: There goes my Kiwi saver ... there goes my retirement. Sorry my husband ... sorry my family no holiday ... sorry my friends we cannot afford to come out to dinner with you." and what is his assessment of her wellbeing?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Of course it is impossible not to have deep empathy for people facing a difficult diagnosis with cancer and my heart goes out to those families. The prior Government obviously did not progress any work on early access schemes for those drugs. It is a complex policy area but this Government is determined to look more closely there. The Prime Minister has asked me to accelerate work on early access and that is exactly what is happening. I'd also note that we have put aside further money in the current Budget to ensure that Pharmac has more money across the drug-buying spectrum and is now close to a record billion dollars.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he seen a report of cancer patient Claudine Johnstone saying "The wellbeing Budget came out on the day that I had my first treatment in Australia. So on the day that Australia was giving this Kiwi a chance to live longer New Zealand was saying people like me don't matter" and what is his assessment of her wellbeing?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I know something of this situation. I've met Claudine Johnstone and I know these things are very very difficult. We also in this Budget I would note have put aside $4 billion for heath. A lot of what we are tackling in health is the result of years and years and years of underfunding in the health system. This Government is committed to improving the health services available to New Zealanders.Hon Shane Jones: Leaky hospitals!Hon Andrew Little: We're just trying to catch up!Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Unfortunately it will take more than one or two Budgets to address those nine long years of neglect under the previous Government.SPEAKER: Order! Before I ask the member to go on this is a serious matter and I think has generally been—while people will have discussions about the style of questions I think that when the Minister is answering he doesn't need support of the sort that he is getting from my right at the moment. I think let's just take this issue seriously.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he seen a report of Mrs Johnstone's eight-year-old daughter Lucy telling her Australian classmates "My dad talked to a man called David Clark. He promised that if he was in Government he would make cancer care in Aotearoa better but he lied" and what is his assessment of Lucy's wellbeing?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: These are incredibly difficult and sensitive matters that affect and disrupt families who are facing the death of a loved one and I am of course deeply concerned to hear about Lucy's wellbeing but we on this side of the House are taking it seriously. We are taking steps that the previous Government did not and I think they should have a good long hard look at themselves on that side of the House.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Whose wellbeing is more important—the Johnstone family's or the Minister's who was reported to have had his feelings hurt by the Johnstones speaking out?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I do regret that member trying to trivialise this issue. This is a serious issue for a family that is facing devastating consequences including failures under his Government's watch."