Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:676;Page:21718] 
8. 
GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Has he been advised of a reduction in funding for home-based health support services in the Wellington region? 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the Minister of Health: I have been advised by Capital and Coast District Health Board as part of ensuring it gets the best home-based health services for its investments that after a competitive tender process it is changing providers. I have also been advised that the chief executive has said: “There will be no reduction in services people currently receive. All clients will continue to be regularly assessed and their health needs met”. I understand from the board that the purpose of the change is to seek some savings in management and administration costs by reducing duplication of activities while maintaining services to clients. 
Grant Robertson 
: How does he reconcile that answer with a reduction since 2010 of $4 million or 30 percent of the budget for home-based services? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: I was replying on behalf of the Minister of Health. The member will appreciate that as a Wellington member of Parliament I have also been briefed by Healthcare New Zealand and will be meeting shortly with the board. I am aware that there is some debate about the figures that have been applied but I do note that funding to the district health board has increased significantly some $86 million over the last 3 years during the term of this Government. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Does he agree with Ken Douglas the former deputy chair of Capital and Coast District Health Board that quite simply the budget being proposed for this service and the expected service volumes do not match and that this will have the inevitable result of significantly reducing the quality and quantity of care available for elderly people or forcing the contracted organisation to subsidise the care itself; if not what assurances can the Minister give to patients in the Capital and Coast District Health Board region that they will receive the same level of services based on a comprehensive health needs-assessment? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: I note that Healthcare New Zealand the unsuccessful tenderer has just filed papers in the Wellington High Court seeking interim orders prohibiting the district health board from proceeding at this point. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to provide ministerial comment on the matters the member has raised. As I indicated in response to Mr Robertson in a non-ministerial capacity I have met with Mr Douglas and I am very aware of his views. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Can the Minister confirm that as part of the retendering of home-based services Capital and Coast District Health Board has reduced client volumes from 3482 to 2500 which is a reduction of almost 1000 people receiving the services? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: I am not in a position to confirm that information. 
Kris Faafoi 
: What message does the Minister have for Christine Miller Shirley Stanway and Barbara Bruce—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Kris Faafoi 
: We know about wanting to sound like Paul Quinn. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The House will settle down. The member should just ask his question. I ask the members on the front bench to please cease the cross-interjection because I could not hear the member at all. 
Kris Faafoi 
: What message does the Minister have for Christine Miller Shirley Stanway and Barbara Bruce who all work as home support workers and who contacted my office worried about their jobs and the fact that there will now be no help for over 400 elderly people who are unable to shower or go to the toilet without assistance? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: I have actually had the same contact as the local member of Parliament. I have met at least one of the people concerned and I have discussed the situation with them. As I say given that the matter is subject to court action at the present time it is inappropriate for me to comment on a matter that might influence the court in its determination.