Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:619;Page:15160] 
8.  
STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What recent reports has she received illustrating the scope of primary health organisations? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
: 
 There are many reports including the report of the Health West primary health organisation in west Auckland which offers a wide range of services to its 147000 enrolled patients. New programmes started as a result of it being a primary health organisation include improved services to identify and treat those with chronic disease primary care of long-term mental health patients subsidised general practitioner and nurse home-visits for the terminally ill immunisation outreach subsidised sexual health consultations for under-22-year-olds low-cost dietary clinics free general practitioner clinics in west Auckland high schools and free primary care including pharmaceuticals for residents of the Glendene refugee and migrant hostel. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What reported differences are there between the standard medical practice environment and that of primary health organisations? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: While it is true there have been many dedicated health professionals who have tried to provide most of the services possible it is the primary health organisation model that is making that a reality. To quote Health West: “PHOs provide the opportunity and incentive for health professionals to work together. The last couple of years in the primary health organisation environment have been the most exciting to work in.” 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Can the Minister confirm that a recent survey showed that the average cost of a visit to one of the Government’s interim-funded primary health organisations was more expensive than that of a visit to a doctor who has not joined the Government’s flawed and unfair primary health organisation scheme? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: First of all the health sector does not believe it is flawed— 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I raise a point— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister has not said more than three words. The member should be reasonable. That is a silly interjection. 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: In the final part of his question the member said the “flawed” system and I started with that part of his question first. There is no way the health professionals think it is a flawed system. In fact I happen to have with me a statement from a doctor who is probably well known to that member who has stated that we have clearly made general practice more viable and that we are doing something very positive to reverse the dissatisfaction and the low morale in primary health care. The recent survey shows that those who have not had additional money put in as a subsidy have had increases in costs because general practitioners are private business people. However for those where we have put money in—for example the over-65s—the average cost is $22.80. I could give an example from Drury—the Drury clinic that that member raised with me. He will find that the clinic in Drury has reduced its charges for the over-65s from $45 to $21. The average across New Zealand has dropped dramatically. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That answer was a little long. 
Tariana Turia 
: Has the Minister any evidence that smaller Maori primary health organisations are seriously at risk given that the formula does not take into account their size; and what does she intend to do about it or is this her way of forcing those smaller primary health organisations to be subsumed by the larger cartels? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I have been very supportive of any primary health organisation of any size that is accepted by the community that helped to set it up. Smaller primary health organisations do struggle in terms of the cost to them. They have received assistance in terms of management fees; that happened last year. I think they will always struggle in relation to the larger ones but that has always been the case whether it was small practices and large independent practice associations. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I seek leave to table the February survey that demonstrates that the Government’s interim primary health organisation doctors’ scheme is more expensive for all age groups of patients than visiting an independent doctor. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. 
Document not tabled.