H20_21-60
28 May 2020
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
Email:
[FYI request #12108 email] Dear Amy
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) – Response – H20_21-60 – referral pathways in the Hutt Valley District
Health Board (HVDHB) region Thank you for your official information request, which was transferred from the Ministry of Health to Hutt
Valley District Health Board (HVDHB) on 1 May 2020. You requested the following information:
“… a copy of each referral pathway for [the HVDHB region]’.
You specified that
‘[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… these policies.’
On 12 May 2020, Capital & Coast District Health Board contacted you to seek an amendment to the wording
of your request in order to aid both Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Board in their responses.
We advise you that there is a broad range of referral pathways across services and specialties, both between
and within our DHB. Each referral pathway is specific to a specialty, and then again to the type of service
required; and each pathway is different again according to the level of detail contained therein.
The current wording of the request makes no specification of which specialty’s referral pathway is being
sought, or the level of detail required. CCDHB requested that you get in touch with them regarding an
amendment on or by 17 May 2020. As we have not heard from you regarding an amendment to the wording
(or rescoping) of your request, we must refuse your request according to section 18(f) of the Official
Information Act, as it is currently too broad for us to respond to without substantial collation and research.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is availab
le at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or free phone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Fionnagh Dougan
Chief Executive
Hutt Valley District Health Board
Hutt Valley DHB | 04 566 6999 | Hutt Valley DHB, Private Bag 31907, Lower Hutt 5010