Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:614;Page:10443] 
6.  
Dr LYNDA SCOTT (National—Kaikoura) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: How does she explain Mr Ian Breeze performing surgery on Mr Barry Baker at Norfolk hospital on 6 December 2000 and operating on Mr Baker again at Tauranga Hospital on 10 and 14 December 2000 given that in her answer to question No. 3 yesterday she stated that restrictions were placed on Mr Breeze on 29 August 2000? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
: 
 The answer I gave yesterday was correct. Restrictions had been placed on Mr Breeze’s ability to carry out colorectal surgery in Tauranga public hospital on 29 August 2000. I am advised by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board that the surgery carried out on Mr Baker on 10 and 14 December 2000 was not colorectal. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Given that according to the Bay of Plenty District Health Board Chief Executive Officer Ron Dunham fellow surgeons whistle-blew on Mr Breeze accusing him of incompetence why was the Bay of Plenty District Health Board unable to take action until the Health and Disability Commissioner stepped in; why did it not get the college to competency-review him earlier and why did it not get the Medical Council involved? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: My understanding is that Mr Breeze had had an audit earlier. The member got it wrong this morning when she said it was done by Mr John Simpson—it was done by another person in 1995. It was the district health board that put on the restrictions. I say to the member that she ought to ask the Medical Council. After all she was one who strongly supported self-regulation by doctors over their own profession. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why was the Bay of Plenty District Health Board unable to stop Mr Breeze practising surgery when Southern Cross’s investigation committee was able to conduct an inquiry into his practice in 2000 and immediately banned him from practising in its hospitals? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The district health board stopped him from operating on colorectal cancer in August 2000. It continued to put restriction on his practice. However the competency of health professionals is decided by their own organisation the Medical Council. That organisation self-regulates the health professions—something that that member strongly supported. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why did it have to be Shirley Crowley who took a complaint and I quote: “I was advised to take a complaint. I was told it was not correct. I was told this in intensive care and I was told by other medical people namely at Southern Cross Hospital because they did their own investigation and the investigator there said: ‘You have to take this further.’ I said: ‘I don’t really feel that I’m the right person to do that.’ and he said ‘Yes you are’. He said: ‘Somebody has to do it and it’s got to be you.’ ” Why did it have to be Shirley Crowley; why did the system not ensure patient safety? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The member makes a very good point about the system. The member will recall that prior to the passage of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act complaints could be reported to a number of agencies: the Medical Council the Accident Compensation Corporation etc. I explained this to the member yesterday. Fortunately we changed that. There is only one place to complain to now and that is the Health and Disability Commissioner. That came out of the inquiry we had about Dr Graham Parry. It probably could have been fixed years ago. Fortunately this Government has done it. 
Question time interrupted.