11 April 2022
Amber Saxton
By way of email only: [FYI request #18853 email]
Dear Amber
Official Information Act request:
Further to your letter dated 14 March 2022 made under the Official Information Act 1982.
Specifically, you requested:
With regards to general medicine and paediatrics departments.
1) What is the list if senior medical officers designated to be clinical supervisors for
medical students from the university if Auckland (i.e. who are the SMOs who can sign
CSRs)
The information you requested is believed to be held by The University of Auckland – Faculty
of Medical and Health Sciences
. In accordance with s14 of the Official Information Act this
question been transferred to the University of Auckland for a response. You wil hear from
them directly.
2) From above, what is the FTE of each SMO, and number of hours expected on site.
The information you requested is believed to be held by The University of Auckland – Faculty of
Medical and Health Sciences. In accordance with s14 of the Official Information Act this question
been transferred to the University of Auckland for a response. You wil hear from them
directly.
2a) if applicable, what is their salary as per Association of Salaries Medical
Specialist contact
Salary payments are based on experience and the applicable step of the ASMS MECA.
This part of the request is refused pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official Information Act
because the information is publically available. Please refer to the publically available
information on the ASMS website for this detail
. https://www.asms.org.nz/
2ai) What has this been for the last 10 years
As above this part of the request is refused pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official
Information Act because the information is publically available. Please refer to the publically
available information on the ASMS website for this detail
. https://www.asms.org.nz/
2b) If unavailable, what is their generic SMO payscale
Salary payments are based on experience and the applicable step of the ASMS MECA.
This part of the request is refused pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official Information Act
because the information is publically available. Please refer to the publically available
information on the ASMS website for this detail.
https://www.asms.org.nz/
3 To prevent burn often doctors get rostered time off
3a) How many days in a row can an SMO work as per contact
This is specific to the department they work in. Limitations about rostering and work can be
found in MECA details published on the ASMS website
https://www.asms.org.nz/
3b) What is the policy around SMO rostered days off
These would align with rosters worked by SMOs in the department. Rostered days off would
likely pertain to departments who require SMOs to work shifts. Many departments like
Paediatrics, medicine, psychiatry, and surgery do not require SMOs to work shifts. After hours
arrangements vary from one service to another, but we are not aware that this includes RDO
following after hours duties.
3c) What compensation is given when SMO do work beyond their day off? e.g. come in
on a RDO
SMOs don't have RDO arrangements apart from those involved in shift work. When SMOs
return to work during office or after hours when not rostered, and not responding to a crisis,
they would be able to negotiate time in lieu with their managers. If they return to perform an
additional shift, they expect additional pay for that session and the rate would be agreed by
the unit manager.
4) With regards to house Officer
4a) What are the run categories for house officers on paediatrics and general Medicine
attachments, ergo number of expected hours
Both General Medicine and Paediatric house officer attachments are category C. The
numbers of hours for those categories and information in 4b) below is available in their
respective MECAs. This part of the request is refused pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official
Information Act because the information is publically available. Please refer to the publically
available information on the websites -
https://nzrda.org.nz/rmos/meca/ and
https:/ www.stonz.co.nz/meca/
4b) What is their pay as per pgy# and run category from above
This part of the request is refused pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official Information Act
because the information is publically available. Please refer to the publically available
information in the respective MECAs for this information.
https:/ nzrda.org.nz/rmos/meca/ and
https:/ www.stonz.co.nz/meca/
4bi) What has this been for the last 10 years?
This part of the request is refused pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official Information Act
because the information is publically available. Please refer to the publically available
information in the respective MECAs for this information.
https:/ nzrda.org.nz/rmos/meca/ and
https:/ www.stonz.co.nz/meca/
4c) What is the maximum number of days house officers in the attachments above have
to work in a row
This would depend on whether they are members of SToNZ (12 days) or NZRDA (10 days)
4d) What is the rostered day off policy for house officers in the rotations mentioned
above?
Rostered days off are as per the respective MECAs. This part of the request is refused
pursuant to section 18(d) of the Official Information Act because the information is publically
available. Please refer to the publically available information on the
https:/ nzrda.org.nz/rmos/meca/ and
https://www.stonz.co.nz/meca/
With regards to trainee interns
5) How many hours per week are trainee interns expected to be on placement in runs
above?
Typically, this would be an 08h00 to 16h00 workday with expected lunch break 20-30 minutes
and two tea/ coffee breaks of 15 minutes each.
5a) As they are not paid, what protections are ensured trainee interns have proper rest
and food breaks?
Trainee Interns can take lunch and tea breaks as per hospital staff.
5b) How many days in a row are trainee interns expected to be on placement
The DHB does not have a policy for trainee interns as they are not employees of the DHB but
students of the Auckland University. This part of your request is therefore refused pursuant to
section 18(e) of the Of icial Information Act because the information requested does not exist.
5c) What is the DHB policy for rostered days off for trainee
interns
The DHB does not have a policy for trainee interns as they do not fall under the remit of the
DHB – they are not employees of the DHB but students of the Auckland University. This part
of your request is therefore refused pursuant to section 18(e) of the Official Information Act
because the information requested does not exist.
5d) How does DHB manage the expectations for trainee interns to be present with their
health and wellbeing in a demanding field.
As they fall under the remit of the Auckland University, the DHB understands that pathways
for wellbeing and access to care exists through the clinical school and university.
You have the right to request the Ombudsman investigate and review the decision to withhold
information. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Waikato DHB supports the open disclosure of information to assist community understanding
of how we are delivering publically funded healthcare. This includes the proactive publication
of anonymised Official Information Act responses on our website from 10 working days after
they have been released.
I trust this answers your query.
Yours sincerely
Jacquie Sherborne
Acting Executive Director Organisational Support
Waikato District Health Board
