Street Maryan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Street Maryan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:12568] 
11.  
MARYAN STREET (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Is he satisfied with the quality of advice available from the New Zealand health system? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes; in general I am. However last week National’s Tony Ryall claimed that the MidCentral District Health Board was not offering patients treatment in Australia when in fact it is. He seems unable to keep up. Also last week Katrina Shanks stated that 600 midwives had left the sector in the past 12 months when in fact the number of midwives has risen slightly. She cannot keep up either and she cannot count. Then we had National’s Wayne Mapp saying that too many people are going to the emergency department whereas National’s Tony Ryall says that a National Government will remove the cap on general practitioner’s fees which would lead to more people going to the emergency department. So National members cannot keep up they cannot count and they cannot agree amongst themselves. 
Maryan Street 
: What other misleading statements and poor conclusions on New Zealand’s health system seem to be coming out of the National Party camp? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Many statements all issued regionally all from National’s Tony Ryall— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Surely at least the wording of that question was wrong. I think the intent was quite inappropriate for parliamentary question time but if that is not to be ruled I think the wording was inappropriate. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: It is a matter of debate but maybe the member would like to rephrase the question for the Minister. 
Maryan Street 
: What other reports has the Minister seen recently on the conclusions arising out of the New Zealand health system? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I have seen a number of reports. For example I have seen reports responding to the many statements issued from the National Party’s Tony Ryall saying that first specialist assessments for elective surgical— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You will recall that last Thursday you asked me to leave the Chamber in respect of a question to the Minister of Justice about New Zealand First and what reports had been received. I simply ask for a little bit of consistency. You ruled on that occasion that it was not appropriate to ask the Minister of Justice a question on what reports he had received about New Zealand First in respect of the electoral law before the House. Why is there a change of rules today— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the member please be seated. I thank the member. I recall the matter clearly; it was a matter of ministerial responsibility. The Minister had no ministerial responsibility another Minister did and I ruled accordingly. Would the Minster please address the question.  
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Yes. I have had many reports in response to regionally issued statements from National’s Tony Ryall. All of these reports said that first specialist assessments for elective surgical services had dropped drastically. The feedback from district health boards has been very interesting. A few pointed out that Mr Ryall had his facts wrong; one was able to point out that Mr Ryall had his facts wrong again. But of all the rebuttals heaped on National’s head my favourite comes from the Canterbury District Health Board which said that rather than counting the number of first specialist assessments it measures efficiency and quality of service. It went on to say that the 100 percent increase in the number of hips and knees replaced in Canterbury since 2004 has been achieved with a reduced number of first specialist assessments being required. We can see that more surgery means less assessment. Mr Ryall continues to find fault at a time when elective surgical services are at an all-time high since reliable reporting began.