Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Scott Lynda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 15 October 2003. Volume:612;Page:9174. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9.  
Dr LYNDA SCOTT (National—Kaikoura) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What is the Government’s policy regarding a district health board’s ability to practise blanket exclusion of certain surgical procedures? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Health 
: District health boards were reminded earlier this year that Government policy does not— 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not want to interrupt the Minister but there is something wrong with the sound. We cannot hear a word she is saying. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Perhaps the Minister could say a couple more words. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I am happy to until the microphone starts working. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the Minister could move down to the front seat. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: There is a nice one down the front there. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: That member might be after the leader’s job but I am not. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: When a technical difficulty like this occurs we just have to make the best of it. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: District health boards were reminded earlier this year that Government policy does not allow for blanket exclusion of surgical procedures. The decision to establish a priority booking system for surgical procedures was made in 1996. That system requires that regardless of the procedure if a person’s need is high enough the procedure should be carried out. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: How are frustrated and angry general practitioners supposed to care for patients they know need surgery for symptomatic hernias when this Minister continues to make misleading statements that deny blanket rationing of services is occurring while at the same time every general practitioner in Waikato has been told they cannot refer hernia patients for even a first specialist assessment? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: The member knows that is not correct and that if the person meets the criteria the procedure will be carried out. 
Dave Hereora 
: Are hernia procedures still being carried out; if so how many are being done by the Waikato District Health Board? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Yes hernia operations are being done. Waikato has actually increased the numbers since 1998-99 from 468 per year to 557 in the 2001-02 year. 
Pita Paraone 
: Notwithstanding her reply to the primary question is it her policy to have the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board practise blanket exclusion by requiring Napier residents to go to Hastings for surgical and other health services; if not why is there the determination to remove the last remnants of a once-proud health service in that city by not supporting the retention of the old hospital site and buildings? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: While not all surgical procedures need to be undertaken in a hospital generally it is preferable that patients travel to a hospital to have the procedure done. 
Heather Roy 
: In relation to the funding of health board surgical procedures can the Minister deny that the planned August deficit of half a million dollars for district health boards actually blew out to a deficit of $5.7 million; and what guarantee can she give that she will not deliver another blowout to over $100 million for the year as has happened in each of the last 2 years? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No I am not able to confirm that. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why has the Waikato District Health Board publicly stated that it has been performing elective hernia operations when its chief executive officer has admitted that outpatient clinics can no longer afford to accept referrals for hernia repair; and exactly who is running the health service—the Minister or the boards? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I repeat that district health boards have been reminded that it is Government policy not to have blanket exclusion of any surgical procedures. The system—as I outlined in answer to the primary question—is that regardless of the procedure if a person’s need is high the procedure should be carried out. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Who are New Zealand patients to believe—a Minister saying there is no blanket ban on hernia surgery or a board saying it cannot afford to see patients let alone operate on them; and why are these patients caught like piggy in the middle with the only certainty being that they will not get surgery? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: If members of the public are considering which version they prefer to believe—the story from the member or from the Minister of Health—I would strongly recommend they believe the Minister of Health. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: I seek leave to table a letter from Jan White the Chief Executive Officer of the Waikato District Health Board which states: “I regret that we are no longer able to provide you and your patients with the treatments you desire”. This referred to a hernia patient. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: I seek leave to table a letter from the Minister stating that district health boards should not adopt blanket surgical policies of this sort. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: I seek leave to table a letter from Mr Denis Whittle regional clinical director of general surgery which states that only 42 elective inguinal hernia repairs have been done in the last 12 months. The patients were on the list and the board felt obliged to honour that commitment but it will not do any more. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.