CORPORATE OFFICE
Level 1
32 Oxford Terrace
Telephone:  0064 3 364 4134
Christchurch Central
[email address];
CHRISTCHURCH 8011
26 October 2021
Michael Vaughan
Email:  [FYI request #16802 email];
Dear Michael Vaughan
RE Official Information Act request CDHB 10727
I refer to your email dated 19 September 2021 to the Ministry of Health which they subsequently
transferred to us on 30 September 2021 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act from Canterbury DHB. Specifically:
1. What is the Covid-19 treatment protocol for hospitalised cases?
We have recently responded to a similar question regarding triage protocols used for Covid cases in
hospital (CDHB 10713).  This response is available on our website (see link below).  We are therefore
declining a response to this question pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official Information Act i.e. “…the
information requested is or soon will be publicly available”.
https://www.cdhb.health.nz/about-us/document-library/?_sft_document_type=official-information-
act-response
2. Are some DHB's following different treatment protocols from others?
Canterbury DHB follows the national agreed protocols and guidance published on the Ministry of Health
website (refer to link below).
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-
health-professionals/covid-19-advice-all-health-professionals
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?

Treatment by necessity needs to be individualised, and that is a decision made between the treating
team and the patient. When appropriate for all patients we check vitamin D levels and give
supplements.   We do not offer vitamin C unless part of a clinical trial for unproved treatments.

As we are responsible for our prescribing, we do have a right to refuse to give unproven treatments such
as hydroxychloroquine and vitamin C.

The Canterbury DHB has a Consumer Complaints Management Policy, please find attached as Appendix
1, and a patient, or their family, are welcome to complain to the DHB or provide feedback on their care
verbally, in writing or via the CDHB website. https://www.cdhb.health.nz/about-us/contact-us/

I trust that this satisfies your interest in this matter.

You may, under section 28(3) of the Official Information Act, seek a review of our decision to withhold
information by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz; or Freephone 0800 802 602.

Please note that this response, or an edited version of this response, may be published on the
Canterbury DHB website after your receipt of this response.

Yours sincerely

Tracey Maisey
Executive Director
Planning, Funding & Decision Support

Document Outline