7. Question No. 7—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 7—Health7. Dr SHANE RETI (National) to the Minister of Health: How much weighting will be given to the ethnicity component of the equity adjuster for surgical wait-lists and what other parts of the health system if any has she looked at applying the adjuster to? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister of Health): To the first part of the question the most influential factor in how a patient is scheduled is how severe their condition is as determined by their doctor. For a clinically high-priority procedure the other variables will have almost no weight in the algorithm and therefore would not influence a person's wait time. The second most influential factor is the number of days the patient has already been waiting. After that the equity adjuster seeks to stop some groups from languishing on the long tail of the wait-list. Ethnicity deprivation and being from a rural area are the other factors taken into account. As I have already said to that member including in written questions the weightings are dynamic so a specific weighting for ethnicity cannot be given. The weighting of elements varies between clinical specialities to make sure that clinical priority remains the primary element. To the second part of the question no I have not looked at applying the equity adjuster to other parts of the health system beyond planned care. I remind the member that this initiative was developed by northern region clinicians and managers. Dr Shane Reti: Who is correct: the Prime Minister this morning suggesting that the equity adjuster is just for Auckland and Northland or the Minister who stated in written answers that there would be a national roll-out? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The Prime Minister has asked me to look at if the equity adjuster is working as intended and I will do that before any national roll-out. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order Mr Speaker. That was not in any way addressing the question Dr Reti asked. SPEAKER: I'll ask Dr Reti to ask the question again. I think it's a close call but—Dr Shane Reti: Who is correct: the Prime Minister this morning suggesting that the equity adjuster is just for Auckland and Northland or the Minister who stated in written answers that there would be a national roll-out? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The equity adjuster is in use in two hospitals in the northern region. The Prime Minister has asked me to look at if it is being used in the way intended and there are no further plans for a national roll-out until I am assured of that. Dr Shane Reti: Which two hospitals? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Auckland City Hospital and I am advised the other one is Middlemore. Dr Shane Reti: Is the Health New Zealand business support manager correct when he wrote to clinicians that priority on the surgical wait-list will be 200 days for Māori and 250 days for nonMāori; if not why not? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: That statement doesn't really make sense and I'd need additional context to be able to help interpret it. Dr Shane Reti: Did she say that the weighting adjuster is dynamic and will change day by day? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: That's right because obviously if you have waited for longer it is more important that you get your procedure. Dr Shane Reti: When does she intend to roll out the equity adjuster for first specialist appointments as indicated in her reply to written question No. 14489 or has this now been delayed as a result of the Prime Minister's request that she assure him that the equity adjuster is not replacing one form of discrimination with another? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: As I have said the Prime Minister has asked me to check that the equity adjuster is working in the way it's intended and that's what I'll do.