8. Question No. 8—HealthHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that We stand by our commitments that we won't be reducing the front line that we will continue to deliver services as effectively as we can and that the cuts that we're talking about are mostly back-office cuts"? Hon Dr SHANE RETI (Minister of Health): Yes I stand by my statement. This Government is absolutely committed to delivering services as effectively as we can to ensure that New Zealanders can access the healthcare they deserve. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: How can it be true that front-line services aren't being reduced when hospitals are under instruction from Health New Zealand leadership to reduce the use of casual nurses who cover roster gaps across a range of services? Hon Dr SHANE RETI: This is a reflection that in the calendar year 2023 I am informed that 2500 nurses entered the workforce. As a consequence of that we are needing to acquire less penal time and less overtime. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Why are doctors being told that they cannot fill vacant specialist roles in hospitals even when they have identified appropriately qualified doctors in what is still a globally tight market for specialists? Hon Dr SHANE RETI: It is a globally tight market for specialists and I am informed that 200 fulltime-equivalent specialists joined the health workforce in the calendar year 2023. Having said that I am reassured by Health New Zealand that health services are safe and they are simply looking for efficiencies such as the $2.75 million that they found in one hospital in the past three months for more efficient procurement of consumables. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Point of order Mr Speaker. My question was about—SPEAKER: Yeah yeah—OK. I'll call you for a point of order. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: The Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: My question was a very practical question about why doctors couldn't appoint to roles and that was not addressed in the question. SPEAKER: Well ask the question again. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Why are doctors being told that they cannot fill vacant specialist roles in hospitals even when they have identified appropriately qualified doctors in what is still a globally tight market for specialists? Hon Dr SHANE RETI: As I said I am informed by Health New Zealand that 200 fulltime-equivalent specialists were entered into the health system in calendar year 2023 and sometimes this is simply a matter of timing. We look forward to employing more senior medical officers as we are able to. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Why did he deny in a statement to Radio New Zealand that there is a hiring freeze in public hospitals when Health New Zealand wrote to health unions on 17 April to say that all unfilled roles were being reviewed and considered for removal? Hon Dr SHANE RETI: People are currently being hired today. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Can he understand why health workers are angry that after he campaigned on a workforce crisis the Minister is now blocking hospitals from filling gaps through a hiring freeze in public hospitals? Hon Dr SHANE RETI: What I do understand is that during the campaign I said the health workforce was a number one priority; that member did not. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: Why won't he admit that six months in his Government has already broken its promise not to cut front-line health jobs and it's taking the country backwards? Hon Dr SHANE RETI: I won't take advice on broken promises from a member who said that non-orthopaedic wait-lists of more than 365 days would be met by the end of last year which was a terrible failure."