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References

Visible links
1. https://www.cdhb.health.nz/media-release...

 

Kind regards

 

Kathleen Smitheram

 

 

Canterbury District Health Board and West Coast District Health Board

Official Information Act Co-ordinator, Planning and Funding

Level 2, 32 Oxford Terrace

PO Box 1600

Christchurch 8140

(DDI (03) 364 4134| 6: 03 364 4165 | *[email address];

[1]cid:image006.jpg@01CF6ACE.1745A080       
[2]WCDHB-Logo-blue-text-588x226

      [3]www.cdhb.health.nz                             
[4]www.westcoastdhb.org.nz

 

 

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References

Visible links
3. http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/
4. http://www.wcdhb.govt.nz/

Dear Mr Livne,

 

While we are able to supply the information you have requested, this will
entail the provision of several thousand procedure codes and events. 

 

Is there something more specific that you are looking for?

Kind regards

 

Kathleen Smitheram

 

Canterbury District Health Board and West Coast District Health Board

Official Information Act Co-ordinator, Planning and Funding

Level 2, 32 Oxford Terrace

PO Box 1600

Christchurch 8140

 

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Thank you Kathleen for your prompt reply.
No, I am not looking for specific information. My aim is to provide a more
informed (free) way for people to assess risks of going into procedures.
I might provide this as a searchable database, so the number of procedures
is not really of consequence.
Best regards,
Moshe

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Hi!
Just a reminder that the response is due on 12/3.
Best regards, 
Moshe
On Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 09:26 Kathleen Smitheram
<[1][email address] wrote:

Dear Mr Livne,

 

While we are able to supply the information you have requested, this
will entail the provision of several thousand procedure codes and
events. 

 

Is there something more specific that you are looking for?

Kind regards

 

Kathleen Smitheram

 

Canterbury District Health Board and West Coast District Health Board

Official Information Act Co-ordinator, Planning and Funding

Level 2, 32 Oxford Terrace

PO Box 1600

Christchurch 8140

 

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Dear Moshe

Please find attached our response to your Official Information Act request
CDHB 10037.

 

Kind regards

 

Kathleen Smitheram

 

Canterbury District Health Board and West Coast District Health Board

Official Information Act Co-ordinator, Planning and Funding

Level 2, 32 Oxford Terrace

PO Box 1600

Christchurch 8140

 

 

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Kathleen hi,
I strongly disagree. I will detail my reasoning below:

 1. Giving this kind of response on the last day (actually after the last
day) leaves a bad taste. None of the issued raised here were not
present at  the beginning of the process.
 2.  "To provide the data on the number of complications only will not
provide a context in which the public will be able to reasonably
understand the risks of undertaking various surgical procedures. Where
there are high volumes of surgical procedures, the number of
complications may be correspondingly high even though as a percentage
of the total these may represent a very small proportion of
complications against the total volume" I have also asked for the
total number of procedures done. I am not trying to scare people, the
complications would be given as percentages. The reason I asked for
numbers is actually to rule out statistical mistakes (if there were 4
operations and one failed, thats 25% but sample size is too small so I
would not present this). I have vast knowledge in statistics, so my
interpretation of the results will not be misleading.
 3. "The bare data does not provide sufficient context to enable the
public to undertake an objective evaluation of benefits versus the
risk of undertaking a surgical procedure. Complications can vary in
their seriousness and need to be considered alongside the following
factors: o Complications may be related to patient co-morbidities at
the time of treatment. o Complications can be as a result of age and
health status of the individual patient rather than procedure
undertaken. o Complications may be related to whether the procedure
was undertaken as an acute/elective admission. o The raw data will not
show whether the nature of the complication was minor or major All of
the above issues are taken into consideration and discussed with the
patient by the surgical specialist when offering treatment to each
patient. " This is somewhat more valid point. I would be happy to get
the data by age group. However, in general, your reasoning can be used
to hide almost every bit of data. For example, smoker mortality... can
be the result of their previous health, related nutrition, genetics
and socio economics. There are always related variables. I can put any
disclaimer you would like me to put on the data, and I intended to put
one saying that this my no means is a replacement for doctor
consultation. However, people should come to this consultation with
enough knowledge.

I will forward a copy of my response to the Ombudsman, as suggested in
your email.
I must say I am slightly disappointed by your response. It doesn't smell
right.
Best regards,
Moshe

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