Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5508. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
7. 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What reports if any has he received regarding the proposed closure of Kenepuru Hospital Accident and Medical Centre overnight? 
Hon JO GOODHEW (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the Minister of Health: I have been advised by the Capital and Coast District Health Board that it is exploring the option of replacing the Kenepuru Accident and Medical Clinic overnight service which sees around one patient per hour with a more effective model the urgent community care model which was been trialled in Kapiti and Horowhenua since 2009. In Porirua it is only a concept at this stage. It is being explored by a working group that includes community stakeholders general practitioners Wellington Free Ambulance Porirua City Council Pacific groups Kenepuru Hospital Consumer Committee members and district health board staff. Should the concept exploration result in the development of a proposal full community consultation will be undertaken next year. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Has he been made aware of how the proposed changes for Kenepuru Accident and Medical Clinic would improve services in the Porirua-Kapiti area; if so how will these services be improved? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: What I have been advised is that in the Kapiti area the urgent community care model that I spoke of has successfully met the needs of the 5000 patients in Kapiti for 3 years. It provides an urgent and medical response by sending specially trained— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We seem to have a problem with the cross bench. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Sorry? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Oh no it is all right. He is alive. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! That is not helpful to the order of the House. The member interrupted a Minister’s answer and that is not helpful. 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: The member has asked about improvements in the Kapiti and Porirua area. I am advised that in terms of the needs of the 5000 patients in Kapiti over the last 3 years the model has provided an urgent and medical response by sending specially trained advanced care paramedics in really well-equipped vehicles to the patients providing treatment in their own homes. In terms of speculating on what the improvements would be in the Porirua area I would have to say first of all that what it would mean is that the treatment would be free. At the moment the patients who attend the accident and medical centre have to pay between $34 and $60 unless they are under 6. So first of all it would be free. Secondly the treatment would be in their own homes which in the Kapiti area they have said is certainly what the patients prefer. 
Barbara Stewart 
: How can the Minister ensure that Capital and Coast District Health Board in the Porirua-Kapiti area is providing quality care if Kenepuru Hospital goes ahead and closes its accident and medical overnight service replacing it with roving paramedics with far less training and experience than doctors? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: These are specially trained paramedics not just the paramedics who currently staff ambulances. They have actually had specific training over and above those of paramedics who staff ambulances. The Kapiti model does give us some confidence that this has been working well. But in fact where the paramedics arrive at the person’s home and find that treatment by a doctor is required—and I am told that currently about one or two of the 10 or 12 who are seen each night would go to the emergency department in Wellington—then they will still go to the emergency department in Wellington where they will actually have medical care. This is another option that is seen to be a better sooner and more convenient option for the patients of the region. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Are the proposed changes at Kenepuru Accident and Medical Clinic the forerunner for a widespread change of health service delivery nationwide in a bid to save money? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: Absolutely not. What these are are options that have already been used in Kapiti for a better sooner more convenient system. In fact 4 years ago the Capital and Coast District Health Board was in serious difficulty. This Government has put $100 million extra over the last 4 years into that district health board and $200 million more into deficit funding. This is not about cutting costs. This is about a much better sooner more convenient health care model for the patients of the region.