Dear Health New Zealand,

The health and disability commissioner wrote to Health New Zealand and the ministry of health on 9th May 2024 to seek a response to address concerns about poor co-ordination (between specialties and between public and private sector services), lack of consistent treatment protocols, long delays in diagnosis and misattribution of symptoms to mental health conditions, resistance to accept EDS diagnosis, and a lack of information provision to families about treatment options including international options.

Please can you release all the information that has been investigated, researched, developed or assembled as of the date of your response to this request, which may inform the Health New Zealand's response to HDC's letter, including but not limited to any response made to the health and disability commissioner and any correspondence, meeting minutes, background briefing or documents produced in support of developing a potential response, and any records of meetings or correspondence with the ministry of health.

I would also be grateful for any background reports or briefings Te Whatu Ora has that relate to these issues (including but not limited to purchasing and public funding of treatment options and evidence reviews and assessment) which predate the HDC's letter since the establishment of Te Whatu Ora in July 2022.

Thank you for your help

Yours faithfully,

Mrs J Hale