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
6 April 2020
Ms Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
Ref 1926
By Email:
[FYI request #12513 email] Dear Ms Van Wey Lovatt
Official Information Act Request
I refer to your Official Information Act request received 23 March 2020, in which you
specifically requested the following information.
The Royal College of Pathologists Australasia has a policy titled "Provision of second opinions
with particular reference to morphological examination", which addresses the best practice with
regards to referral for second and subsequent opinion of pathology specimens.
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.
We are unable to provide you an opinion on this matter as Southern Community Laboratories
are the contracted service to the Southern District Health Board.
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. Please note, my request does not
reflect the standard of care provided at your DHB, but is to ascertain whether there is consistent
adherence to RCPA best practice amongst all NZ DHBs.
Southern Community Laboratories, who employ the pathologists that are contracted to
Southern District Health Board, have their own processes which they will follow relating RCPA
policy.
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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