29 October 2020
Gregory Soar
WHANGANUI
fyi-request-13978-8caf53d8@requests. fyi .org. nz
DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD
Te Poari Hauora o
Whanganui
Via email: [FYI request #13978 email]
100 Heads Road, Private Bag 3003
Whanganui 4540, New Zealand
Dear Gregory
Official Information Act Request - OIA 13181 Health Improvement Practitioners
On 14 October 2020, under section 12 of the Official Information Act, you requested the following
information from Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB):
It is my understanding that WDHB funds the Health Improvement Practitioner (H.l.P) scheme for
Gonville Health Whanganui. I have spoken with Angela who organises the H.l.P
staff who confirmed
HIP's may not script drugs nor diagnose patients.
1. On what date was it known by HIP's that they were not to prescribe medications/ what date were
HIP's told and understood no scripting of medications?
2. Was the no scripting medications known to HIP
staff prior to HIP
staff taking up their position?
3. Why were HIP
staff prescribing medications, then saying they could not prescribe, then later saying
they could script medications and yet later again saying they could not?
(these actions have caused mental distress and refusal to see HIP Meltzer at Gonville Health ever again.)
Whanganui District Health Boards response:
1. On what date was it known by HIP's that they were not to prescribe medications/ what
date were HIP's told and understood no scripting of medications?
This would have been learnt during Phase 1 training with Te Pou. This training was held on 23 June
to 3 July.
2. Was the no scripting medications known to HIP staff prior to HIP staff taking up their
position?
No scripting would not have been known to HIP
staff prior to taking up their position.
3. Why were HIP staff prescribing medications, then saying they could not prescribe, then
later saying they could script medications and yet later again saying they could not?
Unable to answer question three with current information. Would need to understand and further
investigate the specific situation being described.
Should you have any further queries about the above information, please contact our OIA
co-ordinator Anne Phoenix at [email address]
ours sincerely
ssell Simpson
hief Executive
Chief Executive I Phone 06 348 3140 I Fax 06 345 9390
Better health and independence I He hauora pai ake, he rangatiratanga
wdhb.org.nz