1. Health Services—Funding LevelsHon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of HealthORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSHealth Services—Funding Levels1. Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied that the current level of investment into public health facilities and services is meeting acceptable standards and patient needs?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): Yes. The Government has invested $1.7 billion into new or refurbished health facilities over the past 8 years up and down the country. The list is long but some examples include major upgrades at Waikato and Waitematā and new facilities at Whakatāne New Plymouth and Canterbury. West Coast is next and then Dunedin. In terms of New Zealand's 100-plus health services it is difficult to find a service that has not improved under this Government but of course there is always more to do. Hon Annette King: In light of that answer why has he not taken action to address the permanent overcrowding of the emergency department (ED) at Waikato Hospital which led to management wanting to put beds in the corridors with patients being given cowbells to ring for the nurses?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I am glad the member finds the issue amusing. Look the fact is that I have had reports from the health target champion on what is happening in our EDs around the country. I specifically spoke about Waikato; it has got a very specific plan around the ED there. I would just remind the member that in the last Budget Waikato's funding went up by $55 million. It has had an extra $351 million over the past 8 years. Of course it has also had that major upgrade of its facilities and it is providing very very good services to the people of the Waikato catchment area. Hon Annette King: Why has he allowed Capital and Coast District Health Board to struggle to find the capital funding to rebuild its forensic mental health unit which is reported not to meet fire or health and safety regulations which is not fit for purpose and from which 22 forensic patients have absconded since 2013?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: As the member knows there is an upgrade rebuild going on at Kenepuru Hospital. We have actually turned around the situation at Capital and Coast District Health Board. The deficit is about $20 million at the moment unlike the $70 million deficit we inherited from Mrs King—it was much worse in your time I am afraid. Hon Annette King: If his so-called ring-fence for mental health funding is set at a level to meet growing demands for service why did the chief executive of Southern District Health Board (Southern DHB) admit yesterday that it is not investing enough [money] in primary and community mental healthcare." and that the only options were for more funding or making tough decisions?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Of course Mrs King's answer is always more funding but I am delighted to tell her that actually at Southern DHB we have put in an extra $194 million over the past 8 years. A total of $884 million is the budget at this point. We have actually had quite a job turning around the mess at Southern District Health Board. As you know there is a commissioner in there. We will be rebuilding the hospital there and there is a firm plan for turning the place around. You know we had deficits of $42 million and that is now down to $35 million and on track for about $26 million this year. So it is getting better all the time and the key thing is that no one has actually missed out on vital services there. Hon Annette King: What tough decisions does he recommend Southern DHB take in light of the warning given by the Southland Mental Health and Addictions Network to the DHB that patients could be stranded without services if extra funding is not provided? Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I can assure you that no one is going to be stranded without services. The decisions are always difficult in health but actually the easy decision for people in Dunedin this year will be to vote for National.Hon Annette King: How can he continue to deny underfunding of mental health services when DHBs' acute adult bed numbers have decreased—decreased—since 2011-12 in the face of increased readmission rates within 28 days over the same period?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: As the member well knows the model of care around mental health has changed dramatically. We are actually treating more and more people in the community. That was actually also happening under the Labour Government. I can tell her that over the last 5 years we are treating an extra 28000 people per year compared with 5 years ago. That is an uplift of 20 percent. So there are more people we are treating. There is more money we are putting into it. We are doing more all the time but of course there is always more to be done."