Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:662;Page:10747] 
6. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does he stand by all of his recent statements on health services? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes including the statement that Waitemata District Health Board is improving front-line services for patients in its area. For example last year an extra 1045 patients received elective surgery compared with 2008 which is an increase of 8 percent and almost 2000 extra patients received an appointment to see a surgical specialist which is an increase of 10 percent. We are certainly delivering more for people in that area. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: What further reports has he received of improved front-line services being delivered at Waitemata District Health Board? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I can advise the House that the $1.7 million refurbishment of Waitakere Hospital’s emergency care centre is now under way which will bring full 24/7 emergency care services a step closer for the 220000 people of west Auckland. When Minister and local MP Paula Bennett and I visited the hospital recently we saw the site of an expansion in the number of paediatric beds at that hospital and I can advise that this weekend work will start on providing an additional seven short-stay paediatric beds at the hospital. By way of example over the whole district health board general surgery is up by 10 percent and ear nose and throat surgery is up by 14 percent. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: How will his statements help the people of Tararua who are facing big health cuts and where a cancer support worker is reported as saying: “This is just the start. Already we’re facing more calls for our services as funding cuts hit our area.” and where health professionals say that the cuts to rehabilitation services and the axing of night coverage by the district nursing service will put even more strain on families on carers and on volunteers? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: With respect to the night services being discussed by the member there will be alternative services available for the people there. The people of the MidCentral District Health Board have had additional funding— 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: Like what? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Like what? Like the $300000 extra given to the local hospice. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: What other services are being improved at Waitemata District Health Board? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I am advised that a new renal service is being put in place at Waitemata District Health Board. Presently around 220 patients are on dialysis and they are treated in central Auckland meaning that Waitemata District Health Board patients must travel long distances three or four times a week for 4 to 6-hour dialysis sessions. The new service which is to start next year will see existing patients transferred to Waitemata District Health Board and all new patients treated locally. At North Shore Hospital a new medical ward will open next month and a new chronic pain service will be starting very shortly. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: Why does he continue his parallel reality in which there are no cuts when every day I am alerted to new health cuts around New Zealand which will get— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the member. Forgive me but I just cannot hear the member’s question. The House has been particularly noisy today. I do not mind noise where opinions are very strongly held but the member is just asking a question. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: Why does he continue his parallel reality in which there are no cuts when every day I am alerted to new health cuts from around New Zealand which will get even worse when his much-lauded $536 million of new money will be dramatically reduced in the 2010 Budget? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: This Government can show that we are delivering more front-line services for New Zealand than the previous Government was ever able to do. We have certainly seen today that the Waitemata District Health Board is providing many more services for the people in that community. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: I seek leave to table the Midlands region newsletter of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation from the last quarter of last year which quotes David Bennett and Tim Macindoe stating that New Zealand is now a Second World country and that as such we can expect only Second World care— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? [ 
Interruption 
] Members know that when a point of order is being considered they must be silent. I ask how I am meant to hear whether there is any objection to the leave being sought when there is so much noise. If members make that kind of interjection then I may draw the wrong conclusion. 
Leave is sought for that document to be tabled. Is there any objection? There is objection.