Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:661;Page:9892] 
4. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What reports has he seen in relation to improving health services? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: A specific issue was missing from the question that the member read out. I believe he left out the word “front-line”. I invite the member to repeat his question. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: Thank you. What reports has he received in relation to improving front-line health services? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 I am pleased to inform the member and the House that I have received a report that New Zealand last year saw the single biggest increase in the number of patients benefiting from elective surgery in any calendar year. In 2009 almost 135000 patients received elective surgery which is an increase of more than 12000 or 10 percent on the number who received elective surgery in 2008. This increase is a great reflection on our surgeons nurses and dedicated staff throughout the New Zealand public health system who are working so assiduously to improve front-line services for New Zealanders. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Has this large increase in the number of people receiving elective surgery been achieved by delivering less complex elective operations? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: No it has not. The advice I have received is that the average case weight which is a measure of complexity has remained unchanged. I also advise the House that amongst the specialities that have seen increases in elective patients treated cardiothoracic patients are up 18 percent orthopaedic patients are up 9 percent general surgery patients are up 6 percent and patients needing plastics and burns surgery are up a remarkable 25 percent. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: How does this report relate to the report released just last week of 66 people in Timaru waiting for surgery longer than the required 6 months and which further states that as a punishment he has taken $450000 from that district health board; how will that cut help those people get their surgery quicker? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I say to the member opposite that when the news is that 12000 extra patients received surgery last year than under the previous Government we know that this Government is providing more elective surgery for New Zealanders. The one thing those 66 patients in Timaru know is that unlike under the previous Government they will not be one of 30000 New Zealanders culled off hospital waiting lists. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: How does this report relate to the report released last week of the Prime Minister being booed and called a traitor due to health cuts by a large crowd in Levin—the first time in living memory that a Prime Minister has been booed in Levin? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I observe that they were probably the same protesters who made very good use of the reverse side of one of the billboards which said: “Darren Hughes for Otaki”. Those billboards were not very effective in 2008 and I do not think they will be much more effective now. What is effective is the representation of Nathan Guy the MP for Otaki. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: What other initiatives is the Government planning in order to improve access to elective surgery? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: It is very clear that one of the best ways to deliver more elective surgery is to separate emergency surgery from elective surgery because elective surgery is often stopped or cancelled when theatres are needed for emergencies. The Government has already announced that it is building an elective centre at Greenlane Clinical Centre. I also advise that it is investigating a dedicated elective centre at North Shore Hospital and expects to make an announcement in relation to Hamilton at some time in the future.