Southern District Health Board
Dunedin Hospital
201 Great King Street
Private Bag 1921
DUNEDIN 9054
Chief Executive Officer
Phone 03-476 9456 Fax 03-476 9450
8 October 2019
Mr Jack Thompson
By Email
: [FYI request #11242 email]
Dear Mr Thompson
Official Information Act Request
I refer to your Official Information Act request received on 16 September 2019 in which you specifically
requested the following:
1. How many qualified doctors at Invercargill hospital are there that can perform a knee replacement?
There are 5 consultants who can perform a knee replacement at Southland Hospital.
2. How many knee replacements have the team completed to this date in 2019
Southern DHB have completed 65 knee replacements.
3. What criteria a patient needs to meet to be eligible for a knee replacement.
A patient needs to meet the threshold score and be clinically fit for anaesthetic as well as have a BMI
less than 40 to be eligible for a knee replacement.
4. The cost on average of a knee replacement.
Southern DHB does not have a costing system, so the cost per operation is not available. The average
Caseweighted Discharge (CWD) for a knee replacement is calculated at a value of 3.1423. The
2019/20 National CWD price is $5,216.21 in 2019/20, so an average of 3.14 CWDs equates to
$16,390.90 per discharge.
5. What information do you gather from a patient before you decline or approve a request for a knee
replacement?
The information required are X-rays, self-assessment questionnaire to be completed as well as a GP
referral and has to meet the threshold as set by the national CPAC tool (clinical priority assessment
criteria). The CPAC tool is used by all DHB’s.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of our decision by the Ombudsman. The
Ombudsman's
Office
can
be
contacted
on
0800
802
602
or
on-line
at
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/. Yours sincerely
Chris Fleming
Chief Executive Officer
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