24 March 2023
Kellye Foster
[FYI request #21858 email]
Tēnā koe Kellye
Your request for Official Information, reference: HNZ00012265
Thank you for your email on 24 February 2023, asking for the following which has
been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You have
specifically requested:
“I am requesting the official data for publicly funded bariatric surgery for the past 5yrs
and the data that suggests that remission of type 2 diabetes has been successful.
How many of these patients have now had additional diabetes treatment. Why was it
confirmed by health nz that publicly funded bariatric surgery would only be given to
those with diabetes. I am a long suffering obese person whom has severe limitations
due to severe arthritis which would be drastically reduced by surgery and I could
enjoy my 8 children. However declined 4 times now I don't drink smoke or eat
unhealthy I have tried every possible weightloss why does ministry of health not see
the real endemic issues Why is prevention of diabetes not a priority with the endemic
obesity problems in New Zealand Why are we lagging behind in treatment against
Australia UK and USA”
Please see Table 1 below that outlines publicly funded bariatric surgery for the past 5 years,
released to you in full. However, please note the data only reflects the number of publicly
funded bariatric procedures. Te Whatu Ora does not collate data on the ongoing status of
patients who have type 2 diabetes following bariatric surgery.
Table 1: The number of procedures for obesity over the last 5 years
Financial Year
Number of patients*
2018/19
611
2019/20
484
2020/21
548
2021/22
356
2022/23
225
Grand Total
2224
The following information has been extracted from the National Minimum Dataset on 1
March 2023.
In addition, please note:
• Information regarding additional diabetes treatment is not recorded centrally. Each
patient record would need to be reviewed by a clinician to determine whether
diabetes treatment had been initiated. Therefore, this part of your request is refused
under section 18(g) of the Act.
• Bariatric surgery is not offered to just those with diabetes, clinical assessment will
also determine whether bariatric surgery is appropriate in individual cases. Decisions
on who receives publicly funded bariatric surgery are made according to a nationwide
and consistent clinical prioritisation criteria – the National Bariatric Surgery
Prioritisation Tool. This tool was developed by clinicians who are involved in the care
of the bariatric patients and is aimed at choosing those most likely to benefit
metabolically from the surgery.
• A number of parameters including health conditions and lifestyle effects are
considered as part of the assessment and prioritisation process, these issues are
considered in parallel to likelihood to benefit from surgery and also surgical risk to
that individual. A combination of these factors inform whether a patient is considered
for surgery. We would encourage you to discuss this matter with your General
Practitioner who is best placed to explain and provide alternative options.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Te Whatu Ora may
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. Al requester data, including your
name and contact details, wil be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Fionnagh Dougan
National Director
Hospital and Specialist Services
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Te Whatu Ora, PO Box 793,
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
