9 November 2023
Mr Pierce
[FYI request #24468 email] Tēnā koe Mr Pierce
Your request for Official information, reference: HNZ00031523
Thank you for your email on 19 October 2023, asking for the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“I am writing to formally request specific information pursuant to the provisions of the
Official Information Act. Kindly provide the following:
1. Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) Accreditation:
•
Certificate of Accreditation: A copy of the current certificate or document that
affirms Te Whatu Ora Waitematā’s accreditation with the MCNZ.
•
Date of Last Review: The date when the most recent MCNZ accreditation review
for Te Whatu Ora Waitematā was conducted.
•
Outcome of Last Review: Any findings, recommendations, or notes from the
MCNZ from the most recent accreditation review.
2. Director of Clinical Training Expertise:
•
Qualifications: A list of qualifications, certifications, or courses completed by the
current Director of Clinical Training that pertain to Tikanga and/or Te Ao Māori.
•
Duration of Experience: The number of years the Director of Clinical Training
has had in roles or positions where expertise in Tikanga and/or Te Ao Māori was
a requirement or integral part.
•
Relevant Training Programs: Details of any specific training programs or
workshops related to Tikanga and/or Te Ao Māori that the Director of Clinical
Training has attended.
3. Cross Cover Practices:
•
Definition and Policy: A clear definition of what constitutes "cross cover" at Te
Whatu Ora Waitematā and a copy of the policy or guidelines that dictate how
cross cover is practiced within the institution.
•
MCNZ Alignment: Specific sections or clauses in the aforementioned policy that
are believed to align with MCNZ's requirements or guidelines for safe and
adequate patient care.
•
Safety Metrics: Any data, statistics, or reports related to the outcomes or
impacts of the cross cover practices, especially those pertaining to patient
safety.
•
MCNZ Feedback: If available, any feedback, recommendations, or
correspondence from the MCNZ directly related to Te Whatu Ora Waitematā’s
cross cover practices.”
Please see our response to your questions below.
1. MCNZ Accreditation:
Waitematā DHB underwent MCNZ Accreditation with a two-day site visit on 4 - 5 September 2018.
The letter regarding the decision and corrective actions was received on 11 January 2019
(incorrectly dated on the document as 2018). Please find the letter attached as
Appendix One.
The letter outlines the 5 corrective actions required by MCNZ.
The letter notes the full report is published on the MCNZ website. This report can be found here:
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Publications/Training-Provider-Reports/b5ceb2fe12/Waitemata-
District-Health-Board-v2.pdf. The letter noted accreditation status will be through to 31 December 2021. However, due to the
pandemic MCNZ initiated a pause in re-accreditation processes and recommenced them in 2022.
Please find the letter of notification attached as
Appendix Two.
Waitematā will be re-accredited this year with a team from the MCNZ visiting for 2 days on 28 - 29
November.
2. Director of Clinical Training Expertise:
Please find the Job Description for the Director of Clinical Training attached as
Appendix Three. It
specifically includes:
“Statutory & Treaty of Waitangi obligations:
Ensures the professional and political integrity of Waitematā DHB by carrying out all
functions in compliance of the Treaty of Waitangi and by demonstrating a serious
commitment to keeping the Treaty alive. Shows sensitivity to cultural complexity in the
workforce and patient population”.
Regarding the qualifications and training pertaining to Tikanga and/or Te Ao Māori of the current
Director of Clinical Training, we are withholding this information under Section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the Act
to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of such Ministers,
members of organisations, officers, and employees from improper pressure or harassment.
The current Director of Clinical Training, appointed in 2020, met all the necessary qualifications
and requirements for the position.
3. Cross Cover Practices:
Waitematā does not have a policy on “cross cover”.
Waitematā adheres to the definitions and requirements of cross cover as defined in the Multi-
Employer Collective Agreement of the Resident Doctors Association and Specialty Trainees of
New Zealand.
Waitematā has no data, statistics or reports related to the outcomes or impacts of cross cover and
has not received any feedback from MCNZ on cross cover in our clinical services. Therefore, your
request for this information is refused under section 18(e) of the Act as this information does not
exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
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.
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. All requester data, including your name
and contact details, will be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Jonathan Christiansen
Chief Medical Officer
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
