5. Question No. 5—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 5—Health5. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement yesterday that Yes that will mean that we will have deficits that we wouldn't want to see. That member and his Government under-invested in health for nine long years and we will be investing ourselves for quite a period to set that right"; if so when will he "set that right"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yes and we are already setting things right. It will take years to modernise our hospital facilities address the legacy of deferred maintenance and add the new capacity we need. That's why we invested $1.7 billion in capital projects in health in the Wellbeing Budget. It will also take years to rebuild our health workforce. That's why we're investing in training and why we've already hired 1300 more nurses 440 more medical staff and 300 more allied health workers since we took office. It will take years for district health boards (DHBs) to recover from the austerity of the previous Government. That's why we invested $2.8 billion into DHBs in Budget 2019.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree with Dunedin North MP Dr David Clark who said of Budget 2017 "District health boards this year needed at least $650 million to stand still but they're over $200 million short of what they need."; and does he accept that if he had followed Dr Clark's advice over the past two Budgets the DHBs' combined position would presently be close to break-even?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Yes to the first part of the member's question.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is he aware that average wage increases for health workers under the previous Government were 55 percent higher than the cost of living increases for that period?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: What I do know about the settlements done under the previous Government is that they compare particularly poorly to those done under the current Government. For example the nurses' settlement is worth more than the three settlements combined done under the previous Government—Hon Ruth Dyson: What?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: —more than the three settlements combined under the previous Government. This Government values the clinical staff the nursing staff the allied health workers and all who contribute to our health system and we want to make sure those services are sustainably funded into the future so we can continue to attract great people who serve our communities every day by providing the healthcare services that New Zealanders expect and deserve.Hon Michael Woodhouse: In light of that is he aware that days lost due to strikes in his first full year of office were 625 percent higher than the average for the previous nine years?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am aware yes that there has been huge frustration at the underfunding under the previous Government that's led to industrial action to ensure that there were sustainable increases in funding to make sure that we have the workforces we need.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is he aware that the average annual number of DHBs in deficit under the previous Government was 10 and that in his first year he oversaw 16 DHBs in deficit and this year is likely—SPEAKER: Order! The member had two questions quite a long time ago.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am aware of the first part of the member's question yes.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Well when will he accept responsibility for the growing problems in the health sector that are his and his Government's and stop blaming the previous Government?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I don't accept the premise in the first part of the member's question and to the second part of the member's question it will take us some time more than one or two Budgets to address the nine long years of neglect that that Government oversaw."