28 September 2023
Katy
[FYI request #24163 email]
Tēnā koe Katy
Your Official Information Act request, reference: HNZ00030082
Thank you for your email on 18 September 2023, asking for the following under the Of icial
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“How much Senior Medical Officer (SMO) FTE is currently employed for each department
in each of the different (ex) DHB regions?
How much SMO FTE vacancies are there for each department in each of the different (ex)
DHB regions?
How many FSA (first specialist appointments) are provided by each department each year
in each of the different (ex) DHB regions?
How many follow up appointments are provided by each department each year in each of
the different (ex) DHB regions?
How many procedures are provided by each department in each of the different (ex) DHB
regions? If this needs to be further classified into different procedural categories per
department, this is fine.
How much SMO FTE is allocated to triaging each year for each department in each of the
different (ex) DHB regions?
How much SMO FTE is allocated to non patient contact clinical work (e.g clinical
admin/MDT) for each department in each of the different (ex) DHB regions?
How much SMO FTE is allocated to non clinical administrative work for each department in
each of the different (ex) DHB regions?”
As it is currently worded, your request is very broad and would require a significant amount of
collation. Te Whatu Ora does not hold this information at a national level. This information is held
at a local level and due to differences in the way this data is stored across hospital areas, there are
differences in what we can provide. While we are making good progress on bringing together the
collection and reporting of data from across Aotearoa, this wil take time.
On 19 September 2023, in the interests of providing you with information in a timely manner, we
asked you to clarify or refine your request to the following:
“We need to know what timeline the data is requested for, e.g. Annual/Financial year 1
January 2022 – 31 December 2022. Please note that we do not have DHBs anymore
however, we can identify and collate information by hospital areas if you can mention what
specific areas you want the information for.”
On 25 September 2023 we sent a further email requesting you consider refining or clarifying your
request. However, we have not received any response from you.
In order to provide a response to your request, Te Whatu Ora would need to divert personnel from
their other core duties and allocate extra time to complete this task. The diversion of these resources
would impact Te Whatu Ora’s ability to carry out those other core functions. As such, your request
is refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as it requires substantial collation.
I have considered whether fixing a charge for the supply of the information or extending the
timeframe for response would enable Te Whatu Ora to respond. I do not consider that either option
would remove the impact that supplying the information would have on our other operations.
How to get in touch
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.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Michael Cleary
Acting OIA Manager
Government Services
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz