Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:670;Page:17045] 
10. 
GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Is he satisfied with the cost of after-hours medical treatment? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Health 
: I am concerned about the costs of some after-hours services despite the fact that this Government is putting an extra $144 million into primary care over 4 years. There has always been a wide variation in after-hours charges as those clinics are privately owned. This Government is supporting a range of initiatives including a new 10-clinic after-hours network in Auckland nurse telephone triage systems and weekend clinics. 
Grant Robertson 
: Is he aware that in Queenstown an after-hours consultation can cost $139 for an adult $123 for a child and $102 for a baby; if so what is he doing to address that situation? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: Yes I am aware of those figures which are a substantial improvement on the situation when Damien O’Connor was asked in 2004 about after-hours care in Queenstown. He said: “I am aware of some excessive charges for after-hours services in Queenstown for example where some general practitioners have been asking for over $200.” I think that member would have to agree that under this Government the situation— 
Grant Robertson 
: Not true. 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: It is true; it is here in  
Hansard. 
 The system has improved substantially. 
Grant Robertson 
: What responsibility does he take for high after-hours charges or does he agree with the Ministry of Health that practices should check themselves; and when will his Government take responsibility for these charges? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: As I said in my opening answer there is concern about after-hours charges in some areas of the country but it is a longstanding problem and we are working to address it. We are putting an extra $144 million into primary care over 4 years and there are specific initiatives like nurse telephone triage systems weekend clinics extra funding for emergency departments to provide overnight services and extra funding for longer evening services. It is a chronic problem but steps are being taken to address it. 
Grant Robertson 
: Does he think it acceptable that a 14-year-old visiting an after-hours clinic in Auckland was charged $66 for a routine consultation or that a community services card holder in Ashburton was charged $47 for a consultation? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: As I say there are some issues in various parts of the country but we expect that district health boards and primary health organisations will be working together to address this problem. The previous Labour Government failed to address this problem; it is not an easy one. 
Grant Robertson 
: What specific things will he do outside of Auckland to address after-hours charges that are now becoming according to one provider beyond the means of many people? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: I think I have listed quite clearly the specific things that we are doing but I can go through the list again if the member would like me to: nurse telephone triage systems weekend clinics extra funding for emergency departments to provide overnight services extra funding for longer evening services a network of 10 after-hours clinics that are planned in Auckland $850 million going into primary care and $144 million over 4 years going into after-hours services including $14 million specifically for after-hours services split between rural and urban areas. There are very specific measures.