Simpson Scott: Estimates Debate — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Estimates Debate — In Committee[Sitting date: 30 July 2015. Volume:707;Page:5544. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): I serve on the Health Committee and we were fortunate to hear at the estimates hearings a few weeks ago from that very competent Minister of Health Dr Coleman who of course brings to the portfolio not only his very good and capable administrative and political skills but also a track record of real medical professionalism having served with distinction as a GP himself. When we heard evidence from him at the select committee in the Vote Health estimates hearing I was delighted to hear that Vote Health is the second-largest vote in Budget 2015. It accounts for 17.8 percent of the total 2015-16 appropriations. That is a measure of the commitment of this Government to ensuring that New Zealanders have access—and easy access—to health services and provision for health services when and as they are needed.As the Minister just reminded the Committee it was during the last Labour administration that things were so woefully bad in health that people were literally being kept in hospital corridors under bright fluorescent lights at North Shore Hospital for days on end because there was no capacity to provide a service for them. Not only that but New Zealanders were being shipped—The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! I am going to interrupt the member. I gave the Minister of Health some leniency in the debate to refer to periods outside this estimates period because I understand that he was responding to comments made by Annette King. That has now finished and the member will talk about the estimates thank you.SCOTT SIMPSON: Thank you Mr Chair. The simple matter is that in terms of what this Government has done in the health sector it is a remarkably good story. If ever there was an example of a plan that is working and working well it is in health and that became immediately obvious and apparent when the Minister presented evidence to the select committee during the estimates hearings.I represent the beautiful and much-admired environmental electorate of Coromandel. Coromandel is a seat that has not only a wonderful environment and natural aspect but also a population that is of a senior demographic. We are in terms of the demographic breakdown the second-most mature electorate in the country in that regard. So we have got an awful lot of people who are in the 65-plus age group.One of the areas that I was pleased to see the Minister speak about at the select committee was the improved funding and support that would go to people of senior years and those who have chronic diseases. One of the things that became very apparent when the Minister gave evidence to us was that as we all know New Zealand’s population is growing but it is also ageing and the proportion of New Zealanders aged 65 and over is predicted to increase from 14 percent in 2013 to 22 percent by 2033.So in electorates like mine that means that there will need to be greater levels of support and service for for instance palliative care and the Minister was able to assure the select committee that the investment of an extra $13 million a year from 1 July 2015 to help hospices expand their community palliative care services would be of great help and assistance to electorates like mine in the Coromandel. That means that services will be able to be provided to people who need support and care if they are terminally ill and much of that support and service can be provided at home in situ in an environment where the person who is receiving that care and support feels most comfortable. All the evidence shows that where that sort of service can be provided in a home situation then that is a good and excellent outcome not only for the patient concerned but of course for family members as well. As New Zealand’s population ages and grows the demand for palliative care is also going to grow. Hospices make a huge difference to the lives of people who are confronting a terminal illness at end of life.The Health Committee is currently about to embark on a fulsome inquiry into end-of-life choices. As a member of that committee I am looking forward to it.