Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:635;Page:6211] 
8.  
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does he consider it acceptable that Gisborne Hospital is struggling to provide basic services to the area it serves due to financial problems; if not what is he doing about it? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) 
: 
 In the past week I have been in contact with the Tairawhiti District Health Board chief executive to discuss issues facing local health services in Gisborne. I am advised that members of the board and the management team are travelling to Wellington tomorrow for a meeting with Ministry of Health officials to discuss those financial issues further. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Is he aware that Tairawhiti District Health Board is responsible for significantly more people with higher needs—such as those over 65 Maori and young people—than the proportion for New Zealand as a whole and what if any extra funding does the district health board get for their care? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Yes I am aware of that. On average the people of Tai Rawhiti per capita receive about 21 or 22 per cent more than the per capita figure for New Zealand as a whole. None the less the performance of a population-based funding formula should always be kept under review. It is next up for review in 2007 and that is one of the issues that I am sure will be discussed tomorrow. 
Anne Tolley 
: Will the Minister accept my invitation to come to Gisborne and meet with not just the health board but the staff local iwi and the rest of the public to discuss the widespread concerns signalled by the district health board that hospital services are to be downgraded; if not why not? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I was in Tai Rawhiti not very long ago speaking with all of the people the member mentioned. [ 
Interruption 
] No she was not there. I am in touch with the chief executive of Tairawhiti District Health Board as often as I need to be. The chair and the chief executive both have my cellphone number and I have theirs. 
Moana Mackey 
: What reports has the Minister seen on improvements in hospital services in Gisborne? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The Tairawhiti District Health Board has recently announced significant changes to the configuration of Gisborne Hospital’s emergency department. The district health board will take over the management of the department and will add two extra doctors to the department’s staff. Those changes will see all of the doctors and nurses working under the same management. That will bring significant benefits in both the efficiency of the department and the services it provides to local people. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Should these financial problems not be described as belonging to the Government rather than the district health board given that it is central government’s responsibility to provide adequate health-care for everyone no matter where he or she lives? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I believe it is the Government’s responsibility to fund the health system properly. That is why I am very pleased we were able to form a Government with New Zealand First and other parties because the alternative would have meant reckless tax cuts and associated cuts to health expenditure.