OIA REQUEST
Received:
11 March 2021
Due:
12 April 2021
Response Date:
07 April 2021
Subject:
Vulnerable Persons List
I request all information on what services were put in place to risk assess the Vulnerable
Persons List. This template is on the CASA website.
Vulnerable people are what the Waikato DHB, and some members of community boards the
police feel that suicide is imminent due to a family member having commit ed suicide recently
or a close friend, or a cluster of suicides in a contained area.
The suggestion that varied services observe these elected 'Vulnerable Persons'. Without
contact and without knowledge of such a list.
Casa also goes on to pinpoint specific data that is maintained for some 10years and is to be
shared with relevant authorities.
I have already request privately all the information regarding myself and my family members
who were told by a slightly honest representative for the crown that my eldest son and myself
have been on this list since 2019. To no avail. Nothing has been forthcoming at all.
Casa states that certain managers of each DHB hold the list as well as themselves, and the
relevant services have access to this database.
In response to your request under the Official Information Act, please find our responses in
red below:
1.
What the cost of maintaining this list is for each DHB?
The cost of maintaining this list cannot be determined as this function forms part of the
role of the DHB Suicide Prevention Postvention Coordinator and the roles of those
members of the postvention interagency working group.
2.
What are the observers having to observe and where is the critical point that would be
addressed by making contact with a listee in order to assist.
The list is used to identify those potentially most vulnerable in the aftermath of a
suspected suicide so as to ensure that they receive appropriate support and as such,
hopefully reduce any further suicidal loss.
BOPDHB has only used a Vulnerable Persons Register (VPR) on three occasions in the
last 4+ years. Al instances were in response to suspected youth suicides under the age
of 16, whereby they were school students with multiple young persons associated to
them.
3.
I would like to know how many people are on this list, either:
(a) With knowledge and consent; or
(b) Completely unaware.
The number of young persons on these VPR lists when active varies between 20-40
individuals. Given the young age of these people parents/caregivers were informed by
the schools involved. Students were not directly notified to reduce any anxiety,
stigmatisation.
4.
How and who collates the data collected.
The BOPDHB suicide prevention coordinator maintains the list in conjunction with the
members of the postvention interagency working group.
5.
How many persons have commit ed suicide whilst either:
(a) Being on the list.
To date there have been no further deaths by suspected suicide of youth that have
been on VPR lists created as part of a postvention response in the BOPDHB
region. This evidence would support the rationale for utilising such, as previously
mentioned.
(b) Having family members on this list for extended period with no contact.
There were no family/whānau members on these VPR lists, such individuals are
usually under the Victim Support Service who are contracted by the Ministry of
Health to provide postvention follow up in cases of suspected suicide to those
aged over 17yrs who have been referred via Police and/or other services.
6.
I would like to know who is the administrator and who is responsible for the inadequate
and inhumane structure of observing without any contact to the persons being observed,
even after a family member may commit suicide.
Refer question 1 and 7.
7.
Under what human and legal rights as well as privacy laws does this 'Observing and
collating data use or fail to use
The Privacy ACT 2020 and The Health Information Privacy Code 2020.
Access to the electronic VPR List was only made available to members of the
interagency postvention working group at scheduled meetings, all of whom had signed
a privacy agreement as outlined in CASA’s CPRS guidelines
Resources (casa.org.nz).
The members of this group were made up of services directly involved in the support of
students on the list.
7.
What funding is allocated for this VPL and for the varied govt services that are coerced
to perform this.
Refer question 1.
9.
Whether ACC is prepared to cover the cost of traumatic loss of life whilst being observed
on the list. to cover government subsidised breach of ethics, laws, financial
accountability, morality and humanity.
10. Have you heard of the Cartwright Enquiry? Yes.
Please note that this response may be published on our website as part of our proactive
release practice.
Yours sincerely
DEBBIE BROWN
Senior Advisor Governance and Quality
