Southern District Health Board
Dunedin Hospital
201 Great King Street
Private Bag 1921
DUNEDIN 9054
Chief Executive Officer
Phone 03-476 9456 Fax 03-476 9450
26 November 2021
Michael Vaughan
Email:
[FYI request #16802 email]
Dear Mr Vaughan
Re:
Official Information Act Request 2261
I refer to your Official Information Act request as transferred to us from the Ministry of Health
on 30 September 2021, in which you specifical y requested the fol owing:
1) What is the Covid-19 treatment protocol for hospitalised cases?
The national treatment protocol is available at the Ministry of Health website. This is the
current link:
https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/interim_guidance_-
_clinical_management_of_covid-19_in_hospitalised_adults_2.pdf
2) Are some DHB's fol owing different treatment protocols from others?
Other DHBs may fol ow different treatment protocols but should still follow the national
guidelines.
3) Are DHB's free to make decisions about treatments for individuals with Covid-19?
DHBs themselves don’t usual y make decisions about treatment for individuals. This is done by
the treating clinician in discussion with the patient.
4) To what extent are patients able to participate in decision-making about their treatment
programmes?
They are able to participate in decision-making about their treatment in just the same way as
happens with any other il ness.
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?
Requests for specific investigations or treatment regimens by patients are always considered
but the treating clinician has a duty of care to the patient. If his or her professional opinion is
that the investigation or treatment can be clinical y justified, they can provide it.
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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?
As per question 5, the treating clinician has a duty to provide appropriate clinical care. If a
patient’s request for a specific investigation or treatment does not align with what would
general y be considered as standard of care (for example, the treatment guidance in the link
above), clinical staff have the right to decline the request.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of our decision by the Ombudsman. The
Ombudsman's Office can be contacted on 0800 802 602 or on-line at
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.
Yours sincerely
Chris Fleming
Chief Executive Officer
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