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
21 May 2020
Ms Amy Van Wey Lovatt
Ref 1945
By Email:
[FYI request #12108 email]
Dear Ms Van Wey Lovatt
Official Information Act Request
I refer to your Official Information Act request, partially transferred to us from the Ministry of
Health on 1 May 2020, in which you specifically requested the following information:
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. Thus, I request, under section 13 and 14 of the OIA that you please
assist me in obtaining these policies.
There is no specific policy regarding referrals into Southern DHB but we are confident that the
pathways are consistent with all DHB’s and are clear and known to all clinicians. Referrals are
made in written form, either paper or electronically into Southern DHB where they are triaged
and prioritised.
The issue that is raised is not related to the referral process, which has been undertaken
correctly. The issue relates to the process for treating patients outside of their usual domicile.
Southern DHB is required to provide healthcare for those living within their region. Any
requests to treat patients from outside of the region must come from the hospital to ensure
that the necessary transfer of cost occurs between the DHB’s and this cannot be achieved
through a GP referral.
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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