Number of hospitals "requiring" vs "recommending" face masks

Scout Barbour-Evans made this Official Information request to Health New Zealand

The request was partially successful.

From: Scout Barbour-Evans

Tēnā koutou Te Whatu Ora,

This is an Official Information Act Request.
I am looking to understand some choices that have been made around where will "require", "recommend", or "encourage" the use of face masks by staff and patients in hospitals. I understand that in all hospitals visitors are required to mask, but the requirement for staff or patients to mask varies by hospital.

In particular I'm interested in some advice that has been received regarding the contents of this webpage: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-h...

I would like to see,

1. Internal discussion, guidance or advice about how patients and community members will interpret and understand "require", "recommend" or "encourage" in the context of face masks - and why these were the terms chosen.

2. Internal discussion, guidance or advice on any formulae or criteria that health districts could use to decide whether they should "require", "recommend" or "encourage" face masks, and how a health district might go about choosing to change their level of mandatory mask use.

3. Internal discussion, guidance or advice about whether patients at outpatient services and their support people should be considered "visitors" or "patients" in the context of wearing face masks at the hospital, given that the official line is still that visitors must mask across the board.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou,

Scout

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From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand

Tēnā koe, 

 

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Ngā mihi

 

Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ.

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From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand


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Kia ora,
 
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) for:
"Some advice that has been received regarding the contents of this
webpage:
[1]https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-h...
I would like to see,
1. Internal discussion, guidance or advice about how patients and
community members will interpret and understand "require", "recommend" or
"encourage" in the context of face masks - and why these were the terms
chosen.
2. Internal discussion, guidance or advice on any formulae or criteria
that health districts could use to decide whether they should "require",
"recommend" or "encourage" face masks, and how a health district might go
about choosing to change their level of mandatory mask use. 
3. Internal discussion, guidance or advice about whether patients at
outpatient services and their support people should be considered
"visitors" or "patients" in the context of wearing face masks at the
hospital, given that the official line is still that visitors must mask
across the board." 
 
Pursuant to section 15(1)(a) of the Act, Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand
is writing to advise you that a decision has been made on your request;
however, it will take us some time to prepare the information for release.
As it stands, some information will refused under 9(2)(a) to protect the
privacy of natural persons or as 'out of scope' of the request, however
the remaining information is being released in full. 
 
We apologise for the delay, and endeavor to send you the information by
22 May 2023. 
 
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 
 
Ngâ mihi
 
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
 
Ministerial Services

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
 

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References

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1. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-h...
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]

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From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand


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Attachment Guidance for minimum mask use and additional PPE selection in healthcare settings February May 2023.pdf
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Attachment HNZ00015730 OIA Response.pdf
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Attachment Appendix.pdf
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Kia ora Scout
 
Thank you for your request for information. Please find attached our
response to your request.
 
If you have any questions please get in touch at
[1][Health New Zealand request email]. 
 
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 [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz  or by phoning 0800 802 602.
 
Ngâ mihi
 
Ministerial Services

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
 

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References

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1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

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