11 October 2021
OIA Reference: OIA2021092004
Michael Vaughan
Email:
[FYI request #16802 email]
Tēnā koe Mr Vaughan
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) – Response – OIA2
021092004
Thank you for your official information request regarding
management of Covid-19 patients transferred
by Ministry of Health and received by Capital & Coast (CCDHB) and Hutt Valley (HVDHB) District Health
Boards on the 20 September 2021. You specifically asked the following questions:
1. What is the Covid-19 treatment protocol for hospitalised cases?
2. Are some DHB's following different treatment protocols from others?
3. Are DHB's free to make decisions about treatments for individuals with Covid-19?
4. To what extent are patients able to participate in decision-making about their treatment
programmes?
5. If a patient requests a blood test for Vitamin D and/or the administration of high dosage Vitamin
C, are hospital staff able to provide these?
6. Do hospital staff have the right to refuse a patient's request and, if so, is there a process for a
patient to appeal the decision?
Responses to your specific questions are outlined below:
Response
1. What is the Covid-19 treatment protocol for hospitalised cases?
There are no treatment protocols specifically for managing patients in our care. Patient care is
individualised depending on condition. Best practice continues to evolve as clinical studies are
published. Many binational professional bodies, including Australia and New Zealand Intensive
Care Specialists (ANZICS) have endorsed the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce,
(https://covid19evidence.net.au/), which provides high-priority, evidence-based clinical
guidelines that are frequently updated when evidence changes.
The MoH has recently realised guidelines for the management of hospitalised adults which are
available a
t https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/interim_guidance_-
Hutt Valley DHB | Private Bag 31907, Lower Hutt 5010 |
04 566 6999 l www.huttvalleydhb.org.nz
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6342 | 04 385 5999 l
www.ccdhb.org.nz
_clinical_management_of_covid-19_in_hospitalised_adults.pdf. These guidelines are based on
the Counties Manakau DHB (CMDHB) guidelines and are consistent with previous guidance at
CCDHB and HVDHB.
2. Are some DHB’s following different treatment protocols than others?
We are not aware of what treatment protocols are used in other DHB’s.
3. Are DHB’s free to make decisions about treatments for individuals with Covid-19
Clinical management is always at the discretion of the responsible consultant.
4. To what extent are patient’s able to participate in decision-making about their treatment
programmes?
Patients are routinely involved in treatment decisions made about them whilst they in our care
and capable of making decisions, as per Health and Disability Code of Rights which include,
Right 5 – The right to effective communication, Right 6 – The right to be fully informed & Right 7
– The right to make an informed choice and give informed consent.
5. If the patient requests a blood test for Vitamin D and/or the administration of high dosage of
Vitamin C, are hospital staff able to provide these?
Tests are only ordered when they are clinically indicated. We only administer treatments that
are evidence based and will benefit the patient’s condition. We would fully discuss patients’
requests for specific tests with the patient/whānau.
6. Do the hospital staff have the right to refuse a patients request and if so is there a process for a
patient to appeal a decision.
Medical staff are not compelled to provide treatment they believe is not medically indicated or
where the risk of doing so is likely to exceed any benefit. Patients (or their family, whanau or
Enduring Power of Attorney) are always entitled to seek a second opinion. Our medical teams
will work with any appointed health professional to provide any information required to assist
this process.
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
Hutt Valley DHB | Private Bag 31907, Lower Hutt 5010 |
04 566 6999 l www.huttvalleydhb.org.nz
Capital & Coast DHB | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6342 | 04 385 5999 l
www.ccdhb.org.nz
