King Annette: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKing Annette: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 31 March 2016. Volume:712;Page:10089. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that “Only National can deliver more services while reducing district health boards’ deficits”?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Associate Minister of Health) on behalf of theMinister of Health: Yes because in 2008 the deficits were $155 million and growing and they are now reduced to $66 million per year and these are forecast to be less this year. In respect of whether only National can deliver more services—absolutely. Under National there are 110000 more specialist assessments a year and under that member’s watch where she increased the budget by $3 billion there were 7000 fewer during her reign.Hon Annette King: Why does he continue to make the claim that only National can provide more services when Ōāmaru Hospital is being forced to reduce its bed numbers by 20 percent to meet a predicted 10 percent funding cut and at the same time demand for services has almost doubled on what it is funded for?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I would continue to assert that because it is true.Hon Annette King: Is he going to ignore the warning from the New Zealand Medical Association chair Dr Stephen Child who said the increasing pressure being put on the Ōāmaru community could have serious implications for quality of care increasing burnout decreasing job satisfaction and increasing staff turnover?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: No it is not true because the health budget has increased by $4 billion since this National Government took office. Elective surgeries have increased by 50000 under this National Government and specialist assessments as I have already said have gone up by 110000 per year.Hon Annette King: If there are more services and funding why did Dr Stephen Child chair of the New Zealand Medical Association say the funding issues faced at Ōāmaru Hospital are “a microcosm of the healthcare system at large” which as most thinking people know is underfunded by $1.7 billion?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: As I have already said the budget for health has gone up by $4 billion.Dr David Clark: Answer the question.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I am answering the question and that member knows that health services are a lot more effective and a lot more efficient under this National Government.Hon Annette King: Is the way to provide more services and reduce deficits to serve up inedible hospital food like the slop in this picture served to a woman after giving birth at Dunedin Hospital under the Government’s flawed hospital plan—Alastair Scott: What’s that?Hon Annette King: You are right—what is it? What is it?Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been asked.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: Sorry I did not catch the last part of that question. Could she just—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! On the basis—[Interruption] Order! On the basis that the Minister has not caught the full part of the question I invite the member to ask it again.Hon Annette King: Is the way to provide more services and reduce deficits to serve up inedible hospital food like these slops in this picture served to a woman after she gave birth at Dunedin Hospital under the Government’s flawed hospital food plan?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: That member knows that the quality of district health board food is a matter for the district health boards themselves. There are nutritional standards that still have to be met and at Southern District Health Board as that member knows there has been an increase in funding of over $134 million since this National Government took office.Hon Annette King: When he said the new hospital food plan would provide food with nutritional value is an example of his claim the wet soggy empty pastry case in this picture served on a dollop of spud given recently to a patient under the new improved food policy his Government approved? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Can I just remind the Hon Annette King that when I rise to my feet that is the time to stop interjecting—I know the member was responding—then to sit down. Equally can I again remind people at my right-hand side that when I rise to my feet interjections will cease.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I will reiterate for that member because she did not understand the last answer that the quality of district health board food is a matter for district health boards. There is some good food and there is some not so shall we say nutritional food but it meets the nutritional standards that are prescribed.