5102 (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:	5102 (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_05102_2026
Document guid:	8b625005-4509-4522-8d38-e37cec31f915

5102 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Health: How many doctors does the Minister consider acceptable to staff the current emergency department at Palmerston North Hospital?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that staffing levels are determined by clinical and operational workforce modelling, which considers patient volumes, acuity, case mix, and peak demand patterns.