King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 28 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8332. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Labour—Rongotai) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does he stand by his requirement for District Health Boards to operate within their agreed financial plans; if not why not? 
Hon JO GOODHEW (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the Minister of Health: Yes. This is not an unusual position and has been required by Ministers of Health for many years. Times are however tight and district health boards will continue to face challenging decisions about how to meet growing health needs. 
Hon Annette King 
: What influence has his non-negotiable requirements for district health boards to improve their financial performance had on the decision of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board to review surgical and orthopaedic services because “the current scenario of service provision is not sustainable”? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: I am advised that the Minister has been to Wairau Hospital and believes it is a great hospital—in fact he had the privilege of opening it. There is a consultation currently taking place regarding the services that are happening at that hospital. What I would like to fill in for the member is that over the last 4 years the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has had a funding increase of some $48 million. 
Hon Annette King 
: Was he aware that the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board intended to review the surgical and orthopaedic services at Wairau Hospital when he signed off its annual plan on 2 July 2012; if so why did he agree to a plan that failed to tell the people of Blenheim that their surgical and orthopaedic services were up for grabs again; and did he tell Colin King 7 months ago that he would have to front the public on the threat to his health services? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: I think the member opposite is jumping the gun. This is a consultation process. I have already pointed out to the member that there has been a $48 million increase in funding to that district health board and I would remind the member that just 11 years ago to the day— 
Hon Annette King 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You recall that I asked the Minister whether he was aware— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I invite the member to ask her question again. 
Hon Annette King 
: Was he aware that the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board intended to review the surgical and orthopaedic services at Wairau Hospital when he signed off its annual plan on 2 July 2012; if so why did he agree to a plan that failed to tell the people of Blenheim that their surgical and orthopaedic services were up for grabs again; and did he tell Colin King 7 months ago that he would have to front the public on the threat to their health services? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Hon Jo Goodhew can answer any one of those many supplementary questions. 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: Yes there are three questions there two of which I have—well I certainly alluded to the increase in funding and the consultation plan. I think the member is really desperately wanting me to answer whether the member was aware that this district health board like many district health boards will be consulted on services within that district health board. Unfortunately I am not sure whether that part of the plan for that district health board was something the Minister was aware of at the time or not. 
Hon Annette King 
: Why has a National Party member and a likely challenger for the Kaikoura seat set up a new organisation in Blenheim called Save Our Services—something that has not been necessary since 1998 the last time the National Government tried to reduce services at this hospital—and is holding a public meeting on Tuesday night in an effort to save their valuable services? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: I do not believe that the Minister of Health has any responsibility whatsoever for that. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Supplementary question the Hon Annette King. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! I am trying to help the member ask her supplementary question but it requires a bit of assistance. 
Hon Annette King 
: Does he agree with Dr Tom Miller a doctor from Blenheim who wrote in the  
Marlborough Express 
 recently that 14 years ago the hospital was under threat and the loss of secondary services looms again and that if general and orthopaedic services are transferred to Nelson it would be only a matter of time before other services are axed and it would eventually leave Blenheim as a health facility with no other than accident and emergency and other ancillary services? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: When health services are discussed by communities these are very anxious times for communities and therefore I would suggest to the member that she convey to the doctor that he should take part in the consultation process. But I could also add for the member’s interest that when the member herself made erroneous claims about Ashburton Hospital cutting its services— 
Hon Annette King 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member has answered the question and anything else has nothing to do with this question. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Can the Minister advise the House—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The member on his feet has every right to ask a supplementary question. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Can the Minister advise the House of the six different services that were transferred from Wairau Hospital to Nelson Hospital when a Mrs Annette King was the Minister and can she recall whether Annette King at the time expressed concerns about that for the people of Marlborough? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The Minister can answer the question in regard to whether she is aware but she is certainly not accepting responsibility for any action of a former health Minister. 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: I have no ministerial responsibility but I certainly take that member’s word if it happened. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I cannot hear a word above the Hon Trevor Mallard so when he is silent we will hear what— 
Hon Annette King 
: Is the Minister— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is this a supplementary question or a point of order? 
Hon Annette King 
: It is a supplementary question. Is the Minister aware that the former Minister of Health Annette King stopped that hospital being closed and had it rebuilt so that the hospital remained in Blenheim and that it was under threat by a National Government? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: What I am aware of regarding the former Minister of Health Annette King is that she urged some 11 years ago today New Zealanders to be realistic on health: “New Zealand is not rich enough to have the kind of health system found in Australia Canada Britain or the United States.” It is clear that even 11 years ago that member as health Minister had given up on New Zealand’s health system. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Question No.—[ 
Interruption 
] Is Mr Hipkins finished? Thank you.