Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:657;Page:6785] 
4.  
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Has he received any reports confirming that the yearly increase in the number of surgical elective discharges from 2000-01 to 2007-08 averaged 1436 a year and can he confirm that the comparable increase in 2008-09 was 11805? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 I can confirm that the number of people getting elective surgery increased between 2000 and 2008 by a very slow average of 1436 a year which was below population growth and ageing meaning that real access was cut. Many more people got elective surgery in the past financial year with the largest increase coming under the new Government. The past year’s performance was over eight times the past average—a record increase of 11805 extra operations for patients. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Has the Minister seen reports claiming that this increase was due to doing less complex surgery; if so are these claims correct? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Yes I have seen those reports; it is disappointing to inform the House that those claims by the Opposition spokeswoman on health are wrong. The facts show that in the past financial year the average complexity of operations was exactly the same as the previous year and above the average complexity of the previous 7 years. It is worth noting too that most of the increase occurred in the second half of the financial year—January to July 2009. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: Can the Minister confirm that during the 2008 calendar year elective surgery actually rose by 15039 procedures meaning the elective surgery increase he just tried to claim credit for actually happened under Labour’s watch not his? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The one thing I have learnt in this House is that I cannot rely on that member’s claims in question time. But regardless of that the fact is that under the 9 years of the previous Labour Government the average increase in operations for patients was 1436. In this financial year with a very big increase in the second half of the year we are getting that average up. That means more service for New Zealand patients. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I waited until the end of the Minister’s answer. I ask you to reflect on how he started his answer. He said he could not rely on the word of another member. You have delivered a homily today to Labour members about performance. We have heard one Minister answer a question by saying that if a member chooses to put five questions in a question that is their problem and then plump herself down. In that case the member concerned had not asked five questions. Now another Minister has said he cannot rely on another member’s word. That leads to disorder and I think you need to reflect on it. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: No actually—that is what leads to disorder. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: A point of order is being heard and there will be no interjection. I ask Ministers not to start answers in that manner because it will lead to disorder. I support the member’s point of order. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: What were the main reasons for this record increase; and is it usual for more elective surgery to be done in the second half of the financial year than in the first half? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: A number of factors contributed to this result. It is very significant that this is the first time since district health boards were established 9 years ago that the number of patients getting elective operations has been higher in the second half of the financial year than in the first. I am also advised that in line with Government expectations district health boards are making smarter use of the private sector which in the past year helped to deliver around 3500 extra operations than in the previous year. That number is up nearly 50 percent. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: I seek leave to table figures provided by the Minister of Health himself that show there was an increase from 2007 to 2008 of 15039 surgical procedures. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: I seek leave to table the minutes of the meeting of the Northland District Health Board—dated Tuesday 2 June—where the hospital advisory committee notes that the Minister of Health is focusing on patient numbers rather than on case weights which is the complexity of the surgery. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.