Morning Report Health Debate: Labour would keep coalition targets, National claims things 'heading in right direction'

Labour has confirmed it will keep the coalition government's health targets if elected, while admitting some of its "three free GP visits" could be with a nurse practitioner rather than a GP.

Meanwhile, National has claimed the country's health system is "heading in the right direction", while pointing to the new Waikato Medical School - which would train another 120 doctors per year from 2028 - as its solution to pressures on GPs.

The comments came as Labour's Ayesha Verrall and National's Simeon Brown took part in Morning Report's health debate.

Verrall confirmed Labour's approach to the targets while discussing its plan for emergency departments, released on Tuesday.

"We're going to keep the targets, but what we won't do is set the targets and then not resource the health system by not hiring any more nurses in order to deliver them," she said.

"That's negligent."

National's health spokesperson Simeon Brown derided Labour's healthcare proposals as little more than "a glossy document and a report and a review", while touting his own record.

"There is a lot more work to do. But you know, a 41 percent reduction in number of people waiting for an elective surgery for more than four months - that's a huge reduction.

"By no means is the health system fixed, but we are heading in the right direction."

Parties on what they'll actually do

During the debate, Verrall was put under pressure over how the already stretched GP workforce would cope with Labour's "three free GP visit" policy.

She said Labour would introduce "efficiency improvements" such as a triaging system to reduce acute demand.

Verrall also admitted the visit could be with a nurse practitioner rather than a GP.

Brown said Labour's policy was going to "clog up" the health system.

"I don't know why I need to have a free GP visit," he said.

He called on Labour to produce its modelling which supposedly showed how it would free up four-and-a-half million appointments. He said if that did not happen the health system would be overrun.

"What a scare tactic," Verrall shot back.

"Show us the modelling!" Brown said.

Asked for his solution to GP pressures, Brown pointed to the new Waikato Medical School which would train another 120 doctors per year from 2028.

Parties discuss nurse numbers and cancer treatment

Asked about cancer treatment delays at Starship Children's Hospital, Brown said the situation was "incredibly distressing".

He accused Labour of politicising the issue, noting that 70 percent of the shifts were understaffed when Verrall was health minister.

"That's why Health New Zealand has recruited every single one of those vacancies," Brown said.

Verrall said those figures were not brought to her attention while she was health minister.

"We had a programme of hiring nurses under the pandemic. We took the gap in nursing incredibly seriously."

She accused the coalition of running a "deliberate policy of freezing nursing hiring".

Verrall said Labour did not have a target for growing the nurse workforce but would end the "hiring freeze".

Brown said the country "absolutely" needed more nurses, which was why the government was recruiting 2400 nursing vacancy roles "right now" across the healthcare system.

Morning Report presenter Ingrid Hipkiss put to Brown that full-time nurse numbers had increased by just 54 between March 2024 and March 2026.

"If you want to pick and choose timeframes - when Ayesha Verrall was the Minister of Health, the number of doctors in our health system dropped by 130. That's her record," Brown said.

Verrall responded: "Our government didn't have a deliberate policy of freezing the hiring of nurses - which it appears you do."

"We don't - do you have a policy of reducing the number of doctors? Was that your policy? No," Brown said.

Brown accuses Labour of having 'fiscal cliff'

As the debate shifted to funding for health promises, Brown accused Labour of having a "fiscal cliff".

"You haven't provided any additional funding in year four. You have a fiscal cliff for health funding in year four," Brown claimed.

Verrall rejected that, saying it was "a lie".

"Year on year, Labour will invest more in healthcare than National," Verrall said.

"Show me the money," Brown replied.

Parties weigh in on drug funding

Neither Brown nor Verrall were willing to commit to funding new weight loss drugs, like Ozempic, saying that was a question for Pharmac.

Brown said National had committed to an extra $604m over four years for Pharmac, to be redirected from foreign aid.

Verrall said that was "incredibly manipulative" because NZ First leader Winston Peters had already ruled out redirecting that funding.

"You know that will not survive coalition negotiations with Winston," Verrall said.

Debate ends on a positive note

Morning Report's health debate wrapped up with an uplifting moment, as Labour and National's health spokespeople hailed unsung heroes in the country's healthcare system.

Verrall named two care workers - Rebecca McCorkindale and Laura Patterson - who looked after her father before he passed away the summer before last.

"They provided expert, skilled, and compassionate care that was just such a relief to me and my mum. They deserve a pay rise, and they'll get one under Labour."

Brown gave a "shout out" to the head of Counties Manukau for Health New Zealand, Dr Vanessa Thornton.

He said Thornton was leading one of the busiest districts in the country, while also stepping in as an ED doctor.

"She's on the floor, working the floor in the emergency department. And I think that shows the type of leadership that we as a country should celebrate... she's an incredible woman."