8 August 2024
Anthony-John Van Duuren
[FYI request #26655 email]
Tēnā koe Anthony-John
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00052290
Thank you for your email on 6 June 2024, asking Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for the
following under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Any specific research or evidence that the hospital's current policies are based on
regarding the use of vaporisers and their impact on hospital smoke alarms.
A review of the training materials provided to healthcare staff concerning the administration
of medicinal cannabis, particularly regarding inhalation methods.
On 4 July 2024, we advised you that additional time was required to make a decision on your
request.
Response
Any specific research or evidence that the hospital's current policies are based on
regarding the use of vaporisers and their impact on hospital smoke alarms.
Smoke detectors installed in hospitals situated in the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley region, like
most hospitals in New Zealand, are standard commercial smoke detectors. We must always act
within the law as it is an offence for not complying with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ)
regulations. Al fire system designs in hospital facilities meet recognised New Zealand standards
and do not delineate between different product or type of particulate. These detectors, depending
on the type, are triggered by the change of dif raction of light or ionisation of the air and can be
triggered by any particulate. Our sensors are, by design, highly sensitive so that we can take
prompt action.
In our previous response to you (ref. HNZ00046878), we noted that there have been learned
experiences where there have been multiple events of vape and aerosol spray related fire alarms
activations. There is no specific research or evidence in regard to the use of a vaporiser and
similar devices and their impact on hospital smoke alarms. This part of your request is therefore
refused under section 18(g) of the Act as the information you have requested is not held by Health
NZ and we have no grounds to believe that the information is held by another entity subject to the
Act.
A review of the training materials provided to healthcare staff concerning the administration
of medicinal cannabis, particularly regarding inhalation methods.
Your request to action a review of training materials is not considered to be a request for official
information held by Health NZ under section 2(1) of the Act. Please note, the Act does not require
an agency to form an opinion or create new information to answer a request.
As such, this part of your request wil not be considered for response under the Act; however, we
have referred your email to the Ministry of Health for their consideration in terms of any review of
existing medicinal cannabis polices.
For any further concerns about this matter at this specific hospital, please contact the Capital,
Coast and Hutt Valley region, at
: [email address].
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, Health NZ 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
Danielle Coe
Manager (OIA) Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
