Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:631;Page:3547] 
8.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What action will he take to avert the current industrial dispute in hospitals that is disrupting the lives of thousands of patients? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) 
: 
 I will continue to encourage the district health boards and the unions involved to seek a resolution as quickly as possible in the interests of the New Zealand public. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: What steps has he taken to satisfy himself that the public safety will be assured and is he prepared to repeat the commitment of the previous Minister of Health that in health the buck stops with him? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The issue of life-preserving services is not a matter of policy or just of policy; it is a matter of law. My interest is to see that the law is complied with. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Does the Minister realise how bad this strike is going to be? We have called around the district health boards today and close to 20000 patients will be disrupted— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. That question was finished in about six words. To then give the House a speech on activity in the morning which is interesting for the National Party is not part of the question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the member re-put his question as succinctly as possible please. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Surely you will allow some leeway. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I have allowed leeway Mr Brownlee. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: You have asked him to reword his question. He was wording it perfectly satisfactorily. Mr Mallard may not be very happy with it but clearly that is because a major political point was about to be made which Ministers make constantly in their arguments and answers and they are allowed to get away with it. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I just note for members that for some reason today both questions and answers have been of extraordinary length. While that is informative the Standing Orders do require both to be given as succinctly as possible. I have already drawn members’ attention to that in the House today. I am not asking the member to change his question; I am merely asking him to ask his question consistent with the Standing Orders. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Does the Minister stand by his answer in the House yesterday that only 10000 patients will be affected by the industrial action in our country’s hospitals when today we have called around the nation’s hospitals and found that close to 20000 patients will be affected by the strike—with his own Ministry of Health admitting today there is a very real risk that the strike will see even more New Zealand patients culled from hospital waiting lists as a result—and how after 7 years it is everybody else’s responsibility but his? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The member is easily riled. I said in the House yesterday that more than 10000 people were involved and I believe that more than 10000 people will be involved. If indeed the member is correct and 20000 people are involved then that simply reflects just how much health service is delivered by this health system under this Government. I regret that more than 10000 people will have their appointments or procedures postponed if strikes proceed and I urge both parties to search for agreement if at all possible. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Does the Minister realise that even if the strike is cancelled or shortened 20000 patients will have to be rebooked into the system making other patients wait longer and that his most senior officials admitted in a select committee today that there is a very real risk this will mean even more patients will be culled from hospital waiting lists under this Government’s edict? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am aware that if for example a resolution were reached today and the strike did not proceed many many people—thousands of them—would have had their first specialist assessment or their surgery postponed. The reason for that is of course that district health boards have been planning for this eventuality very carefully for months. 
Maryan Street 
: Are district health boards and unions required to plan for the provision of urgent care in hospitals during strikes; if so is the Minister confident that this planning is taking place now? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Yes. As a result of reforms introduced by this Labour-led Government which were not in place under the previous Government both boards and unions are now legally required to plan for and provide life-preserving services during strikes. I am advised that this planning has progressed well and I wish to recognise afresh the contribution that senior doctors and nurses will make if the strike does proceed tomorrow. 
Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: Is it not correct that the Minister and his ministry have deferred responsibility for response to the strikes to individual district health boards and that there is no official in his ministry who is in charge of ensuring a uniform coordinated district health board response to the junior doctors’ strike? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: District health boards and unions are responsible for industrial negotiations between them. 
Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: Is the Minister not alarmed by the fact that his ministry has admitted that the last time it briefed him on the strike was Monday morning and should he not be taking a more direct interest rather than palming off the responsibility; or is it like everything else we debate in this Chamber—that even after 7 years in Government when things go wrong it is always someone else’s fault? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: District health boards and the ministry began briefing me on the issue of contingency planning several months ago in order to assure me they were meeting their legal requirements. Briefings have been regular and have become more so in recent weeks including every day this week. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Not by your officials. 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Can I just say to the member that I receive briefings from district health boards and from the ministry. 
Peter Brown 
: Can the Minister advise how many employment-related disputes in the health sector have resulted in industrial action since Labour came to power in 1999 and can he also advise whether the trend is increasing? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: No I am afraid I cannot. I do not have that information at my fingertips.