Foster-Bell Paul: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFoster-Bell Paul: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 July 2015. Volume:706;Page:4976. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National) to the Minister of Health: What steps is the Government taking to improve access to Primary Care for New Zealand families?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): Fantastic news: from today all New Zealand children aged under 13 will be eligible to access as well as free prescriptions free GP visits at any time of the day or night. Over 400000 children will benefit from this announcement. Yesterday their parents had to pay to take them to the doctor and get a prescription; today it is free. That is on top of 35000 under-sixes who already benefit from free GP visits and prescriptions. This policy will see about $120 million spent over the next 3 years in order to deliver high-quality health care for under-13s. The Government is committed to supporting families and we want to ensure that children get the best possible start in life.Paul Foster-Bell: What impact will this policy have on other areas of the health system?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Free GP visits for under-13s were rolled out in the Northland District Health Board 9 months ago—Hon Member: How do you define a GP visit?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Shh—listen! That is good. Preliminary results from that district health board’s hospitals indicate that emergency department presentations by children aged between 6 and 12 have fallen by 10 percent since the policy was introduced and the number of prescriptions filled has risen by 18 percent. This shows that parents are getting their kids treated sooner which means better health outcomes for those children with fewer presenting later and sicker which of course also takes pressure off our emergency departments and hospitals.Paul Foster-Bell: What other pleasant surprises are there for people who support the policy but who are concerned about its uptake?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I have seen concerns raised by serial health correspondent Mrs A King of Hātaitai stating that although she strongly supports this Government’s policy she was worried that the uptake of the policy would not be very high. She will be thrilled to know that although the level of uptake for the free under-sixes policy launched in 2008 was a solid 70 percent of GP practices the day one uptake of the free under-13s policy is a remarkable 96 percent of GP practices covering 98 percent of children with 95 percent of children also receiving free ACC consultations. I am delighted to be able to put Mrs King’s concerns to rest and I encourage her to continue with her liberal praise of Government policy.Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I can assure you that my late mother-in-law Mrs A King of Hātaitai never wrote any of those letters.Mr SPEAKER: That is hardly a point of order but a fair response.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order. Mr Speaker—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I haven’t called the member yet. [Interruption] Order! This is a point of order. I expect to hear it in silence—the Rt Hon Winston Peters.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister seemed to be quoting from an official document about the uptake on day one. I wonder whether he would table it.Mr SPEAKER: That matter is easily resolved. Is the Minister quoting from an official document?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Well yes. We will be able to put that as an official document on the Table—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! It is a simple matter. It does not need further debate. If it is an official document and if the call has been made for it to be tabled it will be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.