Dyson Ruth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Dyson Ruth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:661;Page:9455] 
8. 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does he stand by all his statements regarding health services? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Health 
: Yes. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: When the Minister answered my written question No. 00219 by stating that Nelson Marlborough District Health Board was not cutting any services was he aware that at the same time nurses at Nelson Hospital were publicly raising serious concerns about nursing positions remaining unfilled in order to save money and that they were saying patient safety at Nelson Hospital was now being put at risk as a result of staff shortages? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: I think that member should note that the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has had a funding increase of $13.6 million under this Government over the last year. Frankly we inherited a massive problem from the last Government which means that yes some changes have to be made to services because we have to make sure that the funding goes to the places where the public gets the best possible outcomes of health spending. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Why are some district health boards looking at making changes to some of their services? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: We inherited a situation where the last Government had made $155 million of unfunded health promises so despite difficult economic times and despite this Government injecting $536 million of new money into district health boards this year those boards still face significant challenges. That is why some changes to services have to be made in order to ensure that health funding produces the best possible outcomes for New Zealanders. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: When he answered my written question No. 00215 by stating that the MidCentral District Health Board was not cutting any services was he not aware of its plan to cut 24 patient beds from the Horowhenua Health Centre? 
Hon Annette King 
: Is that a cut or a change?  
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: It is a change actually and the fact is that MidCentral District Health Board—and I can give you the figure here—has had another $26 million increase in funding over the last year. Once again I say district health boards face a difficult situation and they have to redirect funding to where it has the greatest effect for the public. 
Hon Jim Anderton 
: Does the Minister support the statements of Ministers Wong and Coleman respectively that “The National-led Government is committed to ensuring that people with mental illness … have support services to help them.” and “Early intervention is vital when people are experiencing mental health problems.”; if so how do those comments square with the imminent closure of the 198 Youth Health Centre which provides those very services to 4000 young Christchurch citizens at a very low cost to the health system? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: Yes of course the Minister supports those statements. I am advised that 198 Youth Health Centre is contracted to the Canterbury District Health Board and that the Minister has personally been in touch with the chair of that board who is taking an intense interest in the issue. Mr James who is the chair advises us that the district health board still has $410000 earmarked to assist with this service and discussions are ongoing. So there may be changes but services are being provided as that member well knows. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: When the Minister answered written question No. 00220 by stating that the West Coast District Health Board was not cutting any services was he aware of any proposed cuts in the plan being developed by the board and his office; if not will he now release that plan to the people of the West Coast so they can see what he really is going to do? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: I cannot answer the question specifically. I can tell you that the West Coast has had a $4.5 million increase in funding over the last year. It is very interesting that when you talk about what this Government is doing you like to frame it as “cuts” but when the previous Government was taking $30 million out of its health budget those were “changes”. So it seems that when you guys are talking about it it is fine but it is different when we are. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I just remind the Minister that the Speaker was not involved in any of those actions. Right at the end the Minister said “when you guys” were doing something and said “you” several times in his answer. I remind Ministers that that is not within the Standing Orders.