Roy Heather: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Roy Heather: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:634;Page:5502] 
12.  
HEATHER ROY (Deputy Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What advice has he got for doctors at Waitemata District Health Board when they are forced to explain to patients that they are one of the 800 to be culled from waiting lists to avoid a $3 million penalty the result of his ministry’s requirements? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) 
on behalf of the 
 Minister of Health 
: I am assured by the chief executive of the Waitemata District Health Board that clinical managers at that district health board have thoroughly reviewed the clinical priority of each patient case by case who has been waiting for more than 6 months for a first specialist assessment. This review has included speaking with patients and where appropriate their general practitioners. Patients referred back to their general practitioners will be receiving active care and may be reassessed and if necessary referred again for specialist referral. 
Heather Roy 
: What advice does he have for patients who notify the district health board that they cannot make their appointment but are told they cannot be rebooked before 30 September—as per an email that was distributed to clinicians yesterday—and because of this Minister’s heartless policies will now be sent back to their general practitioner instead of getting the treatment they need? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: This is not new. There are sensible rules that recognise that if people do not keep their out-patient appointments and if they just do not turn up call or make a time that suits them better then it is not fair to have consultants’ time unused when other patients are indeed waiting to be seen. 
Heather Roy 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I do not think the Minister quite heard my question. It asked what advice he had for patients who notify the district health board not those who just do not turn up. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: It was not phrased as a question in that sense. Would the member please rephrase her question so that I can hear it again? 
Heather Roy 
: What advice does he have for patients who notify the district health board that they cannot make their appointment but are told they cannot be rebooked before 30 September—as clinicians were notified by email yesterday—and because of this Minister’s heartless policies will now be sent back to their general practitioner instead of receiving the treatment they need? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am aware of a leaked email but I am not aware that those who have notified their specialists will be dropped. As I said those who do not notify the district health board and do not turn up will be dropped. 
Ann Hartley 
: How is the Government supporting the Waitemata District Health Board to increase its elective surgical throughput? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The Minister has approved funding for the Waitemata District Health Board to complete one new theatre early next year and three more theatres in 2008-09. 
Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: If the Minister considers the impact of waiting list performance measures on the waiting list cull can he advise whether there will be more strike action by radiographers next week and what action is under way by district health boards or the Government to avert it? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is broader than the primary question but would the Minister address it please. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I cannot tell that member whether there will be strike action next week but I understand that district health boards have handled the situation this week very well. I thank all those people who have cooperated. 
Heather Roy 
: What will be the total financial penalty imposed on the 21 district health boards if they fail to cull the required number of patients from their waiting lists by 30 September and what service does he recommend hospitals cut to meet the cost of this “Hodgson’s choice”? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am not aware of the cost of cuts to any district health boards but I can say the estimate of $3 million relates to whether payments are made early in the month or later in the month. There is no intention at all to change the time that the money is paid to the Waitemata District Health Board. So the board will still have its $3 million which that member claimed it would lose. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table a leaked email from the Waitemata District Health Board which means that if a patient has been waiting 5½ weeks for a specialist appointment and then rings up and says he or she needs a 2-week delay because of a death in the family that person will be culled from the waiting list. 
Document not tabled.