Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:646;Page:15130] 
6.  
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Has he received the report from the Controller and Auditor-General titled  
Mental health services for prisoners 
 
which states that the Ministry of Health estimates that prisoners are three times more likely to need specialist mental health services than members of the general population; if so is he satisfied that everything possible is being done to meet these needs? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes the Minister of Corrections and I have received the report and I thank the Auditor-General for his office’s thorough work. The report states that the delivery of mental health care to prisoners is a complex and challenging area. Although the report notes that there is room for improvement overall it states that “The needs of prisoners with severe mental health issues are generally well catered for”. Both the Minister and I are working towards addressing the issues raised in the report and are committing resources to improving services overall. 
Barbara Stewart 
: When does the Minister expect his ministry and the Department of Corrections to finalise their policy for managing prisoners with personality disorders? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: The Ministers have signalled to both departments that work on personality disorders is although a very complex area a matter of major concern and a priority for both departments. 
Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: Does the Minister understand that with two unexpected deaths in the last 48 hours at Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch following on from another unexpected death there 2 months ago public confidence in the hospital is now zero and does he realise that an inquiry that has no report-back date is a completely inadequate response from a pretty inadequate Minister? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: I am well aware of the very tragic events at Hillmorton Hospital and I am also well aware that the Canterbury District Health Board has commissioned an independent investigation. I suggest that the member like his colleague his senior spokesperson on health wait for the results of an independent process before displaying further personality disorders. 
Hon Tariana Turia 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. What specific action will the Minister be taking to ensure that prisoners with mental health needs receive the same level of mental health care as they would in the community and how will those services be targeted and responsive to the needs of Maori inmates? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: I and my colleague the Minister of Corrections are looking at increasing the number of forensic beds across the country the number of specialist drug and alcohol treatment units has doubled to 500 places per year a new programme called First Steps has been developed to provide treatment for drug or alcohol-affected offenders a better screening system is being developed to assess prisoners’ mental health and finally we are increasing resources to train corrections officers to help manage prisoners with mental health issues—Pakeha or Maori.  
Barbara Stewart 
: Is the Minister aware of the Auditor-General’s recommendation that the Ministry of Health should set up regular progress reviews within its forensic planning cycle to ensure they are meeting prisoners’ mental health needs; if so will he act upon this recommendation? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: Yes we have the greatest respect for the work of the Auditor-General and we will be giving it very serious consideration. 
Hon Tariana Turia 
: Does the Minister agree that the limited provision of mental health services for 50 percent of the prison population who are Maori constitutes a national crisis of care for all related agencies and what steps is he taking to recruit staff to deliver kaupapa Maori services in this area? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: I believe that the member raises a very important issue. Nobody could doubt that Maori people are overrepresented in our prison statistics and that therefore the issue of mental health services for prisoners has a very significant bicultural dimension. I assure the member that workforce planning and capacity building in Maori health including forensic mental health is a very important priority for the Government. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Is the Minister satisfied that the interface between regional forensic psychiatric services and general mental health services is satisfactory; if not what is being done to improve it? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: The member also touches on an important issue which is that although in general we are well served by the local nature of our district health board system there are occasions where there is excessive variation from region to region and it is my intention as Minister to see enhanced collaboration on both a regional and national level to reduce that level of variability.