Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:618;Page:14472] 
9.  
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Does she have any concerns regarding the current health needs of the elderly; if so what does she intend to do to address those concerns? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 When we took office in 1999 our Government certainly had concerns about the health needs of older people after a decade of neglect by the previous National Government. Since then we have made progress in many areas including making all older people over 65 who are enrolled in primary health organisations eligible for lower patient fees and $3 prescription charges and providing new funding for orthopaedic surgery in order to double the number of major hip and knee replacements funded by the public health system over the next 4 years. We have also increased the funding for the residential care of older people three times since 2001 by a total of $52 million. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Why is the Minister ignoring those at the coalface of elderly health needs who say that the decision to shift aged-care funding responsibility to the district health boards is unwise and negligent because the district health boards lack understanding and have too many layers of bureaucracy? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I would reply to anyone who made that sort of comment that it is totally out of sync with the majority of submissions on the Health of Older People Strategy which confirmed that the previous fragmentation of the health and disability services for older people was damaging to their health and that the best way to ensure the integration of those services was through a coordinated care package that is best lead by one single funder. 
Dave Hereora 
: What else is the Government doing to address the health concerns of older people? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Most older people given a genuine choice prefer to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. That is why the Government has set up a number of Ageing in Place projects including the Community First model being trialled by Presbyterian Support in Dunedin and Waikato. Feedback is very positive about those community-based services which are especially tailored to the needs of older people and greatly enhance their quality of life. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Will the Minister describe precisely how the deficit-riddled district health boards will cope with funding the care of the elderly now that the Government has foisted the added burden of the Holidays Act upon them or will she deny responsibility? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: In October last year the funding for health of older people services including that for residential care was devolved from the Ministry of Health to the district health boards. The residential care contracts are currently under review including pricing for services. District Health Boards New Zealand has agreed to review those contracts on a national basis to make things easier for providers and to help ensure greater nationwide consistency. While the contracts are under review it is not appropriate for me to comment further on the amount of funding that will be applied. The Ministry of Health is however investigating the impact of the Holidays Act on aged-care facilities. Information has also been received from the district health boards and the ministry will report back to Ministers with that information soon. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked the Minister how precisely district health boards would cope now that the Holidays Act has been foisted on them in terms of their spending and the Minister completely ignored replying to that specific question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That was one question of the two that were asked. If the Minister wants to perhaps she could comment on that aspect of the Holidays Act. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I can repeat what I said in answer to the previous supplementary question which is that the Ministry of Health is investigating the impact of the Holidays Act on aged-care facilities. Information has also been received from district health boards and the ministry will report back to Ministers with those findings soon. 
Judy Turner 
: Is the Minister aware that the significant underfunding of the aged-care sector is jeopardising the safety and quality of the services provided to the extent that the chief executive of the Wellington City Mission has commented that he has had to defer essential maintenance and equipment purchases in order to keep nursing staff? If so will she commit to assisting the district health boards to achieve agreement before the year ends on a pricing model that actually reflects the costs involved and more important will she commit to funding that model; if not why not? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There were three questions there. The Minister may comment on any two. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I was not surprised to read the most recent statement from the Wellington City Mission. It is consistent with statements that I have read at this time in the review-of-contract cycle in many previous years. It has not been my understanding from the many residential providers that I deal with that they have decided to reduce the quality of care. In fact it is my view that the overwhelming majority of providers are interested in enhancing the quality of their care. In terms of the specific funding issues as I indicated in answer to a previous supplementary question those are the responsibility of the district health boards. The contracts are currently under review and it would not be appropriate for me to make a comment at this time. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Is the Minister concerned that more cases like those in the South Canterbury District Health Board will occur whereby the outsourcing of elderly services will cost extra money result in lower care standards and run contrary to Ministry of Health and ministerial guidelines? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I would be concerned if any contracts did not comply with the certification or licensing standards that are required as part of the contracts in all outsourcing work. If the member considers that that is occurring I would be very pleased to receive information on that. 
Judy Turner 
: Does the Minister admit that the Government’s commitment to senior citizens is somewhat hollow when her response to the Health Committee’s recommendation to urgently review contract pricing was to only partially increase it to levels that the ministry itself admitted to be inadequate and when despite the expectation that there would be another catch-up from June this year none has been forthcoming; if not why not? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No I reject the assertion that the member started her question with. I repeat that the review of contracts is currently being undertaken by District Health Boards New Zealand and it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.