17 February 2025
W. Forest
[FYI request #28761 email]
Tēnā koe
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00068782
Thank you for your email on 15 October 2024, asking Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for the
following under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Waikato hospital circulated on a memo dated 11 October 2024 with subject "English in a
clinical setting"
The memo made a claim that "in the clinical setting, English [sic] language both spoken and
written, supports clinical safety and, as such, the expectation is this will be adhered to."
My Official Information Act request is to obtain the supporting documents the decision
makers - Sue Hayward (Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer) and David Bunting (Director
Quality and Patient Safety) - used to create a new policy in the clinical setting.
I believe the supporting documents should include Human Rights Act assessment they -
the decision makers - would have done to effect this policy.
Response
Firstly, Health NZ staff should absolutely feel supported and free to be themselves, to use their
language, and celebrate their culture in our workplaces. We celebrate the diverse cultural
backgrounds that our staff have and acknowledge the value that diversity can bring to ensuring we
are responsive to the care that patients need whom also come from diverse community and
cultural backgrounds.
There is no policy in place at Health NZ including at Waikato relating to English speaking in the
clinical setting. The policy process at Waikato requires wide collaboration and consideration of
human rights, legislative and regulatory requirements for health professionals, including cultural
and linguistically diverse considerations.
The context of the internal memo from Waikato referred to, was a response led independently by
the then Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer and the Director Quality and Patient Safety. It
addressed requests from Charge Nurse Managers seeking clarity regarding safety of clinical
handover information. The
Update on Language in Clinical Settings from Chief Executive Margie
Apa was shared with staff on 15 October 2024.
Please see this update attached as
Appendix One.
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. All requester data, including your name and
contact details, will be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Stephanie Doe
Group Director Operations - Hospital and Specialist Services
Waikato District
