11 August 2020
C121464
Misha
[FYI request #12729 email] Dear Misha
Thank you for your email of 29 April 2020, requesting various local operating
manual procedures supporting the Department of Corrections’ Health Services
Health Care Pathway Policy. Your request has been considered under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). I apologise for the delay in responding to
you and thank you for your patience.
Corrections’ Health Services Health Care Pathway (HCP) describes the system
of health screening, assessments and care that people can expect to receive
from their arrival at prison until their release.
The HCP integrates multiple policies relating to health screening, assessments,
care, ongoing management and treatment and creates the fundamental
foundation that documents both the health opportunities that are available and
how they are accessed. It is a prescriptive document that details what is
expected, what is provided and how it should be provided, encompassing the
whole context of care. Because of this, no further process information is
included in the local operating manual for much of the HCP, aside from when
site-specific variances apply.
You have requested:
Please provide the supporting LOMS for the following principals:
4.8 corrections heath services will employ or contract suitably qualified
staff in a model where the skills and knowledge of the workforce matches
the health needs of the population
4.9 corrections heath services nursing staff and contracted health
professionals will undertake only those tasks Or activities that are in
there regulated scope of practice and for which they have required
training and competence:
Corrections adheres to the professional standards set by the New Zealand
Nursing Council and the requirements of the Health Practitioners Competence
Assurance Act. We also support developmental opportunities for staff and we
have a robust annual core training programme, as set out in the Clinical
Training/Professional Development/Study Assistance Policy and Procedure.
Please find this policy attached. Note, this policy is under review given recent
changes in our service delivery model. We expect that this policy update will be
completed in September 2020.
The Health Centre Manager at each prison has a statutory responsibility for
ensuring the legislative, professional and policy requirements are met to enable
safe, efficient and effective health-care delivery at each site, in line with section
19(a) of the Corrections Act 2004.
4.10 Corrections Health and custody staff will work together to achieve
the standards set out in this policy
The HCP is a policy that applies to all Corrections Health Services and custodial
staff, as per 3.1 of the HCP, therefore requiring staff from across these groups
to work together to achieve the standards.
9.5 & 9.6. Health Centre Manager responsibilities for universal heath
assessments
9.7 -9.13 registered nurse responsibilities when undertaking any
universal health assessment
Please refer to the Health Centre Manager Legal Responsibilities, which are
attached. Note that this policy is dated and a review of it has commenced.
Please also note that sub-sections of this policy have been amended,
particularly:
• 6.3 - regulation 64. Internal health circulars were sent 16 September
2019 and policy revision occurred in May 2019;
• 5.2 - segregation for medical oversight. A health circular was sent on 12
December 2019 and recirculated 24 April 2020.
9.14 - 9.16 referrals to corrections health staff
A Health Request Form is used by people in prison to access health services.
No further process or policy is required for this.
9.17-9.18 urgent referral to external health provider
The Health Care Pathway documents provide for this referral. Any variance at a
particular prison is documented in the Local Operating Manual (LOM) of that
prison. Please find the LOM templates attached.
9.37 two yearly health assessment
The two-yearly health assessment is covered by the HCP. No further process or
policy is required for this.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns
with this response, I would encourage you to raise these with Corrections.
Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the
Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO
Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website.
Typically, responses are published monthly, or as otherwise determined. Your
personal information including name and contact details will be removed for
publication.
Yours sincerely
Juanita Ryan
Deputy Chief Executive – Health