From:
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt <[FYI request #12108 email]>
To:
Craig Goodwillie <[email address]>
Date:
08/03/2020 11:27 a.m.
Subject: Re: Information Request
Dear Craig Goodwillie,
Thank you for your response.
Section 18(g) of the OIA states that a request may be refused on the
grounds:
(g) that the information requested is not held by the department or
Minister of the Crown or organisation and the person dealing with the
request has no grounds for believing that the information is either—
(i) held by another department or Minister of the Crown or organisation, or
by a local authority; or
(ii) connected more closely with the functions of another department or
Minister of the Crown or organisation or of a local authority:
The MoH Operational Policy Framework 2019/20, available through Nationwide
Service Framework Library <https://nsfl.health.govt.nz>, states under
section 7.5.2 "Regions should ensure that clear referral pathways are in
place and known to all clinicians."
Given that every DHB must "ensure that clear referral pathways are in place
and known to all clinicians", clearly such policies must exist, and thus
section 18(g) cannot apply to my request.
Request 1:
Thus, I request, under section 13 and 14 of the OIA that your please assist
me in obtaining these policies even if it requires transferring my request
to each and every DHB or another relevant agency, which would have the
required information.
Request 2:
In terms of clarification of how the policies are consistent with
legislation, please explain who other than the HDC would be the most
relevant to provide such information.
According to section 14 of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994,
(1)The functions of the Commissioner are as follows:
(a) as a first priority, to prepare a draft Code of Health and Disability
Services Consumers’ Rights in accordance with section 19:
(b) in accordance with section 21, to review the Code and make to the
Minister any recommendations for changes to the Code:
(c) to promote, by education and publicity, respect for and observance of
the rights of health consumers and disability services consumers, and, in
particular, to promote awareness, among health consumers, disability
services consumers, health care providers, and disability services
providers of the rights of health consumers and disability services
consumers and of the means by which those rights may be enforced:
(d) to make public statements and publish reports in relation to any matter
affecting the rights of health consumers or disability services consumers
or both, including statements and reports that promote an understanding of,
and compliance with, the Code or the provisions of this Act:
(da) to act as the initial recipient of complaints about health care
providers and disability services providers, and to ensure that each
complaint is appropriately dealt with:
(e) to investigate, on complaint or on the Commissioner’s own initiative,
any action that is or appears to the Commissioner to be in breach of the
Code or, in the case of conduct that occurred before the enactment of the
Code, in breach of certain disciplinary standards:
(f) to refer complaints, or investigations on the Commissioner’s own
initiative, to the Director of Proceedings for the purpose of deciding
whether or not any further action should be taken in respect of any such
breach or alleged breach:
(g) subject to section 15(2), to make recommendations to any appropriate
person or authority in relation to the means by which complaints involving
alleged breaches might be resolved and further breaches avoided:
(h) to prepare guidelines for the operation of advocacy services in
accordance with section 28:
(i) to make suggestions to any person in relation to any matter that
concerns the need for, or the desirability of, action by that person in the
interests of the rights of health consumers or disability services
consumers or both:
(j) on the Commissioner’s own initiative or at the request of the Minister,
to advise the Minister on any matter relating to—
(i) the rights of health consumers or disability services consumers or
both; or
(ii) the administration of this Act:
(k) to report to the Minister from time to time on the need for, or
desirability of, legislative, administrative, or other action to give
protection or better protection to the rights of health consumers or
disability services consumers or both:
(l) to receive and invite representations from members of the public and
from any other body, organisation, or agency on matters relating to the
rights of health consumers or disability services consumers or both:
(m) to gather such information as in the Commissioner’s opinion will assist
the Commissioner in carrying out the Commissioner’s functions under this
Act:
(ma) to monitor mental health and addiction services and to advocate
improvements to those services:
(n)[Repealed]
(o) to perform such functions as the Commissioner is for the time being
directed to perform by the Minister in accordance with section 112 of the
Crown Entities Act 2004:
(p) to exercise and perform such other functions, powers, and duties as are
conferred or imposed on the Commissioner by or under this Act or any other
enactment.
Thus, the information I have requested is consistent with the function of
the HDC, which is "in relation to any matter affecting the rights of health
consumers or disability services consumers or both, including statements
and reports that promote an understanding of, and compliance with, the Code
or the provisions of this Act".
Thank you for your assistance with my request. I trust that the information
will be provided in a timely manner.
Kindest regards,
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt