Level 2
Timaru Hospital
14 Queen Street
Timaru
New Zealand
Telephone 03 687 2253
Facsimile 03 688 9958
18 June 2020
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
Transferred Request
By email: fyi-request - [email address]
Dear Amy
Re:
Official Information Act Request
I refer to your Official Information Act request transferred on 08 June 2020 in which you specifically
requested clarification on requests from third party providers of pathology specimens.
Request 1:
I respectfully request your DHB's policy on second opinions requested by a third party who is a
medical practitioner currently involved in the medical care of the patient from whom the
pathological material was originally obtained.
Medlab South (part of the Southern Community Laboratories Group) is contracted by South
Canterbury District Health Board to provide pathology services. Medlab South follows the RCPA
“Provision of second opinions with particular reference to morphological examination” policy when a
third party requests a second opinion.
Request 2:
In the event that your DHB deviates from the aforementioned RCPA policy, I request an
explanation for why your DHB deviates from best practice. Medlab South follows the RCPA policy as stated in our response to Request 1.
Kind regards
Andrea Guillemot
General Manager
Medlab South Timaru