5097 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 04 Mar 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	5097 (2026)
Question asked:	16 Feb 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Simeon Brown
Answer received:	26 Feb 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_05097_2026
Document guid:	297c6939-3818-417f-90b9-3d9cbf14a8ce

5097 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Health: How many doctors does the Minister consider acceptable to staff Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department once the expansion is complete?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that the appropriate number of staff required for Palmerston North Hospital’s expanded Emergency Department will be determined by Health New Zealand through established clinical and operational workforce modelling. I am further advised that these staffing levels depend on factors such as patient volumes, acuity, case mix, flow requirements, and the configuration of the new facility.