8 August 2023
Gabby Anderson
[FYI request #22979 email]
Tēnā koe
Official information request HNZ00025533
I refer to your follow up official information request dated 10 July 2023 regarding CT scans,
clarifying whether our response to HNZ00021377 was a response from all of the Auckland
metropolitan hospitals. Your original request and our updated response follows:
Request:
Rumour has it that there was once an arrangement between Auckland Metro Hospitals and
Auckland Zoo, for patients who were too large for the usual hospital CT scanners. This
unique and creative solution for patient care is fascinating and I'd like to delve a little deeper
into it.
Could you kindly assist me in understanding:
1. The specifics surrounding the Auckland Zoo arrangement, including:
1a. The dates that marked the beginning and conclusion of this arrangement.
1b. The number of patients who benefited from this arrangement during its tenure.
1c. The kind of health and safety protocols that were implemented to safeguard patient well-
being and privacy during these scans at the zoo.
1d. Any policy changes, official reviews, or discussion records leading up to the
discontinuation of this arrangement, assuming it is no longer active.
2. I'm also keen to learn about the current procedures that are in place for patients who are
too large for standard hospital CT scanners:
2a. The specifics of these current procedures, including any partnerships or collaborations in
place.
2b. The number of patients who have been accommodated via these alternative procedures
since the discontinuation of the zoo arrangement.
2c. The health and safety protocols, ethical considerations, and privacy measures in place
for these alternative solutions.
2d. Any challenges encountered in these current procedures and steps taken to mitigate
them.
3. Lastly, if there are any discussions or plans to introduce new or improved procedures to
accommodate such patients in the future, I'd love to learn about them.
Auckland Metro Region Response
We apologise that the original response was not from the Auckland Metro Region.
1a-c Te Toka Tumai Auckland, Te Whatu Ora Waitematā and Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau
are unable to fulfil your above requests under section 18(e) Of icial Information Act, the document
alleged to contain the information requested does not exist.
We do not have nor has there ever been an arrangement between Auckland Zoo and the Auckland
metropolitan districts for patients who were too large for the usual hospital CT scanners.
2. I'm also keen to learn about the current procedures that are in place for patients who are
too large for standard hospital CT scanners:
2a. The specifics of these current procedures, including any partnerships or collaborations
in place.
2b. The number of patients who have been accommodated via these alternative procedures
since the discontinuation of the zoo arrangement.
2c. The health and safety protocols, ethical considerations, and privacy measures in place
for these alternative solutions.
2d. Any chal enges encountered in these current procedures and steps taken to mitigate
them.
The districts are unable to fulfil your request under section 18(e) of the Act as the information does
not exist. The districts have never had a case where a patient could not be scanned because of
weight issue.
The current CT scanning capability can take patients up to 300kg weight, in the very rare situation
where a patient could not be accommodated on the CT scanner, the clinical team and Radiologists
would discuss other suitable imaging options.
3. Lastly, if there are any discussions or plans to introduce new or improved procedures to
accommodate such patients in the future, I'd love to learn about them.
The districts have no plans to introduce new or improved procedures in the scenario provided, for
the reasons stated above in response to Q2.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[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
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. The released response wil be made available
on our website.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Dr Mike Shepherd
Interim District Director | Hospital Specialist Services
Te Toka Tumai Auckland
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Te Whatu Ora, PO Box 793,
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
