2 July 2021
OIA Reference: OIA2021060201
Richard James
Email:
[FYI request #15632 email]
Tēnā koe Richard James
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) – Response – OIA2021060201
Thank you for your official information request regarding
Effect of Wellington Airport closures on
aeromedical services received by Capital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) on 1 June 2021. You
requested the following information:
Please could you provide all information you may have regarding the effects on aeromedical transfer of
patients caused by Wellington Airport's night-time runway closures during 2020-201
Particularly:
1. The number of patients affected (who could not be transferred, were taken to other airports, or
transfer was delayed) & assessment of any harm caused to them
2. Any assessment of the financial cost to Capital & Coast DHB's aeromedical services caused by
Wellington Airport runway closures.
On 6 June 2021 you clarified your request to
: Could I please narrow the OIA request to provide only the
information contained within the first bullet point, namely:
1. The number of patients affected (who could not be transferred, were taken to other airports, or
transfer was delayed) & assessment of any harm caused to them.
Our response to your request is as follows.
Response
1. The number of patients affected (who could not be transferred, were taken to other airports, or
transfer was delayed) & assessment of any harm caused to them.
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6242
Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
www.ccdhb.org.nz | Phone: 04 385 5999
| Fax: 04 385 5856
Fifty-four in total of patients referred to the aeromedical retrieval service were affected of whom we
deemed 40 had delay in accessing definitive care. The remaining 14 were affected but treatment was
not definitively delayed because we used other methods of retrieval (e.g. helicopter instead of fixed
wing). The use of the helicopter would greatly increase the cost of the transfer and the risk to the
patient/crew (flying in the helicopter is riskier than the fixed wing) but the patient transfer was not
delayed. The helicopter was not affected by the airport closure because it does not need a runway.
We assessed all patients we retrieved during the overnight closures and determined seven had likely
incurred harm; these were duly reported as Severity Assessment Codes (SAC1) events. For those
referred on, we have no information, as we were unable to retrieve them to Wellington so do not know
their outcome.
I trust this information fulfils your request. You have the right, under section 28 of the OIA, to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a
complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or you can free phone 0800 802 602.
Nāku ite noa, nā
Fionnagh Dougan
Āpiha Whakahaere Mātāmua | Chief Executive
Ūpoko ki te uru Hauora | Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Boards
1Note
: https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/assets/Reportable-Events/Publications/National_Adverse_Events_Policy_2017/SAC-
examples-table-2019-20.pdf)
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6242
Wellington Regional Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
www.ccdhb.org.nz | Phone: 04 385 5999
| Fax: 04 385 5856