We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Scout Barbour-Evans please sign in and let everyone know.

DSS and NASC Access for People with Long Covid, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Scout Barbour-Evans made this Official Information request to Ministry for Disabled People

This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Scout Barbour-Evans to read recent responses and update the status.

From: Scout Barbour-Evans

Tēnā koutou e Whaikaha,

I understand that for quite some time, Te Whatu Ora NASC providers have been informing Long Covid and ME/CFS patients that their conditions sit on a document held by Whaikaha exempting these conditions from access to NASC services.

I would like to access:

1. Policy documents which discuss health conditions which should, and should not be covered by DSS or NASC providers.
2. Internal analysis, including economic analysis, analysis of needs, and advice received by the Ministry as to whether or not patients with Long Covid and ME/CFS should be able to access DSS or NASC support and coverage.
3. Correspondence providing advice, that has been sent to NASC providers and Te Whatu Ora about this coverage.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou,

Scout Barbour-Evans

Link to this

From: OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA)
Ministry for Disabled People

IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe

Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 request, received on 7 October 2024.

Your request has been logged with the reference OIA3500, and you can expect to receive a response within 20 working days.

We will be in touch if we have any questions, or if we need to extend the time taken to answer your request.

Ngā mihi,
Margee Do (she/her)
Senior Advisor, Ministerial and Executive Services
Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People
http://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/

Me he aka rātā ka tipu tahi, ka puāwai tahi kia tū kaha i ngā hihi ō
Tamanuiterā.
Like the rātā vines growing together and flourishing to stand strong in the
warmth of the sun.

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA)
Ministry for Disabled People

IN-CONFIDENCE

Kia Ora Scout

I refer to your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request, reference OIA3500.

We have transferred Part 3 your request to the Ministry of Social Development - Disability Support Services (DSS).

This is because the information to which this part of your request relates is not held by us but is believed to be held by DSS.

In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer your request.

You will hear further from DSS concerning Part 3 your request in due course.

Ngā mihi

Ministerial and Executive Services team
Ministry of Disabled People - Whaikaha

Ngā mihi,
Margee Do (she/her)
Senior Advisor, Ministerial and Executive Services
Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People
http://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA)
Ministry for Disabled People


Attachment DSS OIA 3524 Barbour Evans.pdf
92K Download View as HTML


IN-CONFIDENCE

Kia Ora Scout

Please find the attached response to Part 3 of your request

Ngā mihi,
Margee Do (she/her)
Senior Advisor, Ministerial and Executive Services
Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People
http://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Scout Barbour-Evans

Tēnā koutou OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA),

I am very much unsurprised that DSS at the Ministry of Social Development did not hold any correspondence between Whaikaha and Te Whatu Ora or their subcontractors, because they are in fact not Whaikaha. It surprised me that you would consider transferring this part of the request.

Would you please consider re-examining if Whaikaha does indeed hold this correspondence?

Ngā mihi nui,

Scout Barbour-Evans

Link to this

Scout Barbour-Evans left an annotation ()

A complaint to the Ombudsman regarding the late response by Whaikaha (and decision to inappropriately transfer part of the request elsewhere) was made on the 5th November 2024.

Link to this

From: Scout Barbour-Evans

Kia ora OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA),

The response to this Official Information Act request was due on November 4th.

You separately stated you would respond by November 7th.

You transferred part 3 of this request to the Ministry of Social Development, who did not have the information, which would have reset the due date. I requested when they did not hold this information that you please check again that Whaikaha did not, as the information I was requesting should have sat in the email accounts operated by Whaikaha. There was no response.

Parts 1 and 2 of this request should still have been due November 4th.

I am sending this on November 13th.

Can I please have an update on the progress of this request?

Ngā mihi nui,

Scout Barbour-Evans

Link to this

From: OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA)
Ministry for Disabled People

IN-CONFIDENCE

Kia Ora Scout

I apologise for the delay in responding and can confirm that we are currently preparing the response and will send it to you by end of the week.

Again, I apologise for the delay in responding to your request

Ngā mihi,
Margee Do (she/her)
Senior Advisor, Ministerial and Executive Services
Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People
E: [email address]
http://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Scout Barbour-Evans

Tēnā koutou OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA),

Your response to parts 1 and 2 of this Official Information Act request was due on the 4th of November. On the 14th of November, you claimed this would be sent by "the end of the week". Today is the 21st of November, a week later.

Can you please update me as to the status of this request?

Ngā mihi nui,

Scout Barbour-Evans

Link to this

From: OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA)
Ministry for Disabled People

IN-CONFIDENCE

Kia ora Scout

I am sorry for the delay on this one ---it took a lot more work collating and assessing the relevant material than we originally thought.

Here is a status update for you: I sent our proposed response, along with all the materials recommended for release, through for final review this morning. I am hoping to be in a position to send the material to you by tomorrow, but I acknowledge we haven't been able to stick to our timeframes so far. We are in the final stretch with this one, at least.

You do have the right to complain to the Ombudsman about this delay. I hope to be in touch again very soon,

Ngā mihi
Sophie
Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA_requests (WHAIKAHA)
Ministry for Disabled People


Attachment OIA 3500 Response letter.pdf
252K Download View as HTML

Attachment OIA3500 Documents.pdf
3.2M Download View as HTML


IN-CONFIDENCE

Kia ora Scout

Please find attached our response to your OIA request. Apologies for the delay.

Ngā mihi
Sophie
Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People

show quoted sections

Link to this

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Scout Barbour-Evans please sign in and let everyone know.

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry for Disabled People only: