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: Have there been more or fewer elective surgical procedures undertaken in the 2018/19 year to date than in the previous year to date according to the Ministry of Health statistics web page entitled Services delivered: Acute and elective patient discharge volumes" and by how many?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): The data set on that web page does not capture all surgical procedures as the member knows full well. I'm advised that according to the limited data set on that web page there have been 4098 fewer elective discharges in the year to March compared to the previous year. However beyond the numbers the member is referencing acute surgery is up by 2225 and there have been 1400 more non-admitted procedures delivered by district health boards (DHBs) so more people are getting the care they need in the most appropriate cost-effective and convenient setting.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree that the figures on that page indicate that DHBs are on track to perform 1800 fewer gynaecology and 750 fewer urology procedures this year compared with last year?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: One thing I am clear on is that the member is cherry-picking figures to talk down our health service. The figures that the previous Government used in respect of the electives target—the figures that that Government used—were a third larger than the ones on that page. The member knows that those are not the figures his Government—the previous Government—used when it was wanting to inflate figures for elective surgery.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Well is he saying that he doesn't have confidence in the data published by his own ministry and if so how can the public tell whether access to elective surgery is getting better or worse?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: No. That page is just not the full picture.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Sorry what was that? That page is what?SPEAKER: Will the member repeat the end of his answer—neither of us heard.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: That page doesn't represent the full picture.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Well what confidence can he give 81-year-old Kevin Gibson of Gisborne waiting for urology surgery which has been cancelled four times in the past 18 months that his prospects of receiving the procedure he requires are more remote under this Government?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I dispute that assertion and what I would say is that this Government is committed to funding our health services properly after nine years of neglect. The system has been under strain. It is my expectation that DHBs will strive to meet the contracted levels for procedures. The year is not over yet. For that individual he has of course my sympathies. For anyone who doesn't get the surgery that they want first time as happened under the previous Government through prioritisation in the health service of course they have my sympathies.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Will he commit to DHBs performing more elective surgery this year than last and if so how will the public be able to tell if not by the ministry's statistics?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The year is not over yet and I expect that DHBs will be working very hard to deliver on the contracted volumes."