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 January 2022
Mr Andrew McGregor
Email
: [FYI request #17690 email]
Dear Mr McGregor
Re:
Official Information Act Request 2330
I refer to your Official Information Act request, as transferred to us from the Ministry of Health on 22
December 2021, in which you specifical y requested the fol owing:
What are the official Guidelines/procedures for urgent X-rays (24 hour)
Urgent x-rays are available 24 hours each day in both Southland and Dunedin Hospitals. There are no
specific guidelines or procedures for obtaining urgent x-rays, other than the appropriate referral being
made to the radiology department fol owing assessment of the patient by medical staff.
There is no specific document, however, there is a general Management of Referrals - Radiology District
document available to guide the referral process (attached).
What are the Guidelines/procedures for patients repeatedly admitted to Emergency Department with
severe epigastric pain/ and upper right and left quadrant pain
We have no specific guidelines for patients repeatedly presenting to the Emergency Department with
severe epigastric pain/ and upper right and left quadrant pain. Al patients are assessed based on their
symptoms, history, examination, and diagnostic tests. Repeated presentations for any condition do,
however, always raise an increased suspicion of a serious underlying condition.
Guidelines/procedure for investigating possible Colonic Motility Dysfunction/Defecatory
Disorders/Anorectal Dysfunction
We have no specific guidelines for investigating possible Colonic Motility Dysfunction/Defecatory
Disorders/Anorectal Dysfunction. Al patients are assessed and treated according to their symptoms,
history, examination, and diagnostic tests.
1
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
2