71521 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Associate Minister of Health

71521 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Associate Minister of Health: Does the Minister agree with Robbie Moginie, interim chief executive of Presbyterian Support Otago, that the cost to build a hospital bed is 10 times higher than an aged-care facility bed so It therefore makes sense to invest critical healthcare dollars in the aged-care sector; if so, what, if anything, will she do to address this?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised by Health New Zealand that the cost per bed varies significantly. Hospital beds and Aged Care beds have different cost profiles, as they perform different roles in our health system. Hospital beds are inclusive of emergency departments, outpatient departments, specialists’ areas, including diagnostic equipment, and a range of other health professionals. I am further advised Health NZ has developed an Infrastructure Investment plan. It sets out a 10-year national roadmap for investment in health infrastructure based on the Nationwide Service and Campus Planning development of services and the assessment of legacy asset risk. The Infrastructure Investment Plan will be discussed by the Infrastructure Investment Ministers Group in November 2024 and is expected to be presented to Cabinet by December 2024.