7. Health Services—Industrial Action Cancellation of Elective SurgeriesHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthHealth Services—Industrial Action Cancellation of Elective Surgeries7. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: From what date will DHBs be cancelling elective surgeries in anticipation of the nurses' strikes and what specialist surgeries will be cancelled first?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): I'm advised that each district health board (DHB) will be managing this through their individual contingency plans and they will be prioritising based on the clinical needs of patients. I understand the process of sending notices of postponement has already started as too has rebooking. The specific dates and types of surgery that will be postponed in the event of a strike will vary from DHB to DHB. I would note that the DHBs and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) are still involved in facilitation and I encourage both sides to do all they can to find a settlement and avoid strike action.Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister's answer talked about a range of dates and that is certainly true. But the question was From what date" will those surgeries be cancelled and that wasn't addressed.SPEAKER: I think it was addressed. It was answered maybe not to the member's satisfaction. It's sort of like yes/no—you can't insist on a particular form of answer. Is there a further supplementary?Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has the Minister received any reports that DHBs have cancelled surgeries that were scheduled from as early as tomorrow?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: What I have had advice on is that the process of sending notices of postponement has already started as too has rebooking. The Ministry of Health cannot provide detailed information on that at this time.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Can he therefore confirm that as the NZNO has issued notice of a second strike on 12 July unless the nurses' pay dispute is settled no elective heart surgery bowel cancer surgery and other elective complex surgeries will take place at all in New Zealand for two weeks or more?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I cannot confirm that at this stage. I'm advised that each DHB will be managing this through their own individual contingency plans and they'll be prioritising based on the clinical needs of patients. The specific dates and types of surgery that will be postponed in the event of a strike will vary from DHB to DHB.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Will those patients who have their surgery cancelled postponed or deferred be given priority over other patients whose surgery dates have already been confirmed thus disrupting more patients and their families or will they have to wait even longer for their surgery to be rescheduled?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I can't speak to individual cases. What I can say is that the DHBs each have individual contingency plans in place. They've been signed with an agreement between the NZNO and the DHBs. They've signed life-preserving service agreements. The process of prioritisation will be based on need just as happens in the hospital sector normally.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Can he give an assurance that preventable deaths won't occur as a result of these complex surgeries being delayed?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am advised that each of the 20 DHBs have signed life-preserving services agreements with the NZNO to ensure that the emergency services and safe staffing levels are in place. I'm also advised that DHBs have set up clinics over the weekend on non-strike days to provide additional services such as dialysis. No one wants to see patients put at risk and everything is being done and will be done to keep them safe."