2. Question No. 2—HealthDr SHANE RETI (Leader of the Opposition) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 2—Health2. Dr SHANE RETI (Leader of the Opposition) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions in relation to health?Hon PEENI HENARE (Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health)) on behalf of the Minister of Health: Yes.Dr SHANE RETI: Can he confirm that the 27433 people waiting more than four months for a first specialist assessment that he reported yesterday is the largest number of people on this waiting list ever?Hon PEENI HENARE: On behalf of the Minister I can't confirm that number. However I am confident that as we look towards continuing to support our COVID-19 response as well as business as usual as we best we can given we are in a global pandemic we have a system that will be able to cater for that and we'll continue to monitor that as we move forward.Dr Shane Reti: How many then if any of the 284 ICU beds he has stated are fully resourced do not currently have a dedicated ventilator?Hon PEENI HENARE: On behalf of the Minister I don't have that detail to hand right now. However as we have done a survey across our DHBs and looking towards our capacity to continue to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak I am confident that the health sector and our health infrastructure will stand up but it will only be able to stand up if we continue to support as well our social response to this which is why the announcement today by the Hon Andrew Little was a very good one.Dr Shane Reti: Can he confirm that Whanganui District Health Board has four resourced ICU beds but only three ventilators?Hon PEENI HENARE: On behalf of the Minister I can't confirm that as I don't have that detail but in my recent visit to Whanganui I am encouraged by the work that they are doing to turn around their vaccine rates which continue to rise.SPEAKER: I'm just going to ask the Minister to be clear when he's talking about his recent visit whether he's talking about his recent visit or the Minister's recent visit.Hon PEENI HENARE: My recent visit.SPEAKER: Right well it's an important differentiation to make.Dr Shane Reti: What rate of hospitalisations is considered manageable under the new traffic light system and do the three Auckland DHBs currently meet that definition?Hon PEENI HENARE: On behalf of the Minister yes I've got full confidence in the Auckland DHBs to continue to respond using the capacity that they have. We know in particular that the Auckland health system has been under stress but has responded quite well. We're confident that as we look towards ICU capability as well as our ongoing health capability in Tāmaki-makau-rau we'll continue to be able to respond and respond well.Dr Shane Reti: How many DHB proposals for funding to build additional ICU capacity have been rejected over the last 12 months if any?Hon PEENI HENARE: On behalf of the Minister I don't have that detail to hand but if the member would like to put it in writing I'm sure he'll get a detailed answer.Dr Shane Reti: How many hospitals if any are still building negative pressure rooms in preparation for coronavirus and when will all building be completed?Hon PEENI HENARE: On behalf of the Minister once again I don't have that level detail across the hospital network in Aotearoa but if the member wants to put it in writing I'm sure he'll get a detailed answer.SPEAKER: I didn't interrupt the member as he was asking his questions but I will draw his attention to Speakers' ruling 183/3. The questions—if the member wanted to persist with the questions I decided that was his call but they could have been ruled out and certainly there is not a requirement to answer them.