5. Question No. 5—HealthINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 5—Health5. INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister of Health: What has the Government recently done to improve the availability of emergency mental health respite care in Dunedin?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): I am pleased to confirm that Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand has now contracted to increase crisis respite capacity in Dunedin from a one-bed service to a five-bed service. Having adequate crisis respite care is a much-needed part of the mental health and addiction system that's been missing in Dunedin for some time. This expanded crisis respite care—as part of this Government's commitment to mental health and delivered under the Time for Change - Te Hurihanga programme—will be another tool to help support people to avoid going to hospital and will provide urgent support in a home-like setting for people experiencing mental distress.Ingrid Leary: Who will be able to use these beds?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The beds will primarily be for people experiencing mental distress but it's anticipated this may include some people with addiction issues too. The beds are for people who present for example to the emergency department or their GP and are distressed expressing suicidal thoughts who are manic—or whatever—and who can be supported outside of a hospital setting. It's expected that the average stay will range between one and four nights where they can be assessed and transferred to hospital or where they recover from the episode. Ingrid Leary: Will the increase in bed nights cater for current and expected future demand?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes. Our Government has remained committed to not only addressing the deficit we inherited in mental health care from the previous Government but planning for our growing population's future needs. Historically in this region the region of Ōtepoti Dunedin there has been only one bed contracted by the former district health board or Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand with no NGO clinical oversight. Demand and usage will be monitored and if needed it could be increased in the future to deliver addiction beds.Ingrid Leary: How has Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand worked to ensure this service can operate at capacity?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Previously the local provider Pact was only contracted to deliver one crisis respite bed from a small facility that wasn't fit for purpose. As a result of feedback from the community Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand identified the need for more capacity as soon as possible and worked with the provider to now increase its capacity to five. Ingrid Leary: How many hospital beds at Dunedin Hospital does the Minister expect will be freed up by the increased capacity?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: An important focus over winter has been to support reducing pressure on our hospital system so that it has the capacity to care for those who need hospital-level care. If this respite service is used at capacity by Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand mental health crisis response services and primary care then up to 1825 bed nights each year will be freed up from being used in in-patient settings. This is important as the system considers every possible step that can be taken to ease pressure on the front line at our hospitals should be taken.