West Coast District Health Board
Te Poari Hauora a Rohe o Tai Poutini
Corporate Office
Telephone 03 769-7400
High Street, Greymouth 7840
Fax 03 769-7791
26 October 2021
Michael Vaughan
Email:  [FYI request #16802 email];
Dear Michael Vaughan
RE Official Information Act request WCDHB 9612
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 West Coast DHB. Specifically:
1. What is the Covid-19 treatment protocol for hospitalised cases?
West Coast DHB follows the 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
2. Are some DHB's following different treatment protocols from others?
West  Coast  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  West  Coast  DHB  has  a  Consumer  Complaints  Management  Policy;  please  find  a  copy  of  this
attached  as Appendix 1.  A patient, or their family, are welcome to complain to the DHB or provide
feedback  on  their  care  verbally,  in  writing,  or  via  the  West  Coast  DHB  public  website:
https://www.wcdhb.health.nz/about-us/contact-us/

I trust that this satisfies your interest in this matter.

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

Yours sincerely

Tracey Maisey
Executive Director
Planning, Funding & Decision Support

APPENDIX 1
RELEASED
UNDER
THE
OFFICIAL
INFORMATION
ACT

RELEASED
UNDER
THE
OFFICIAL
INFORMATION
ACT

Document Outline