Policy on requests from third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended) made this Official Information request to Hutt District Health Board

The request was successful.

From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended)

Dear DHB,

I am a New Zealand citizen, which is demonstrated by the fact that the MoH has already confirmed my citizenship prior to responding to my OIA requests (or a google search of my name).

The Royal College of Pathologists Australasia has a policy titled "Provision of second opinions with particular reference to morphological examination", which addresses the best practice with regards to referral for second and subsequent opinion of pathology specimens.

Request 1:
I respectfully request your DHB's policy on second opinions requested by a third party who is a medical practitioner currently involved in the medical care of the patient from whom the pathological material was originally obtained.

Request 2:
In the event that your DHB deviates from the aforementioned RCPA policy, I request an explanation for why your DHB deviates from best practice.

Please note, my request does not reflect the standard of care provided at your DHB, but is to ascertain whether there is consistent adherence to RCPA best practice amongst all NZ DHBs.

Yours faithfully,

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt

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From: OIA Request [HVDHB]
Hutt District Health Board

Dear Amy

Thank you for your request for official information, received by Hutt Valley District Health Board on 23 March 2020.

Your request has been received and logged. As required under the Official Information Act 1982, we will respond to your request within 20 working days. You should receive a response on or before 22 April 2020.

If a large amount of information has been requested or if the district health board needs to consult in order to make a decision, we may need to extend this date (this is provided for in section 15A of the Act). We will advise you if such an extension is necessary.

Hutt Valley District Health Board provides the first five hours of staff time to prepare a response free-of-charge. If your OIA is expected to take longer, we will inform you of the charges, and give you the opportunity to change or refine the request to reduce or remove the need to charge.

It should be noted that many key staff involved with the sourcing and preparation of material for your OIA request are also directly involved with work associated with COVID-19.

This may impact on our ability to respond to certain OIA requests within normal timeframes.

Our reference number for your request is: H20_21-45.

Kind regards

Robyn Fitzgerald

Robyn Fitzgerald | Correspondence Officer | Hutt Valley District Health Board |  Pilmuir House | Lower Hutt    
DDI: 04 570 9488  |   [email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt <[FYI request #12507 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 22 March 2020 4:32 AM
To: OIA Request [HVDHB] <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion

Dear DHB,

I am a New Zealand citizen, which is demonstrated by the fact that the MoH has already confirmed my citizenship prior to responding to my OIA requests (or a google search of my name).

The Royal College of Pathologists Australasia has a policy titled "Provision of second opinions with particular reference to morphological examination", which addresses the best practice with regards to referral for second and subsequent opinion of pathology specimens.

Request 1:
I respectfully request your DHB's policy on second opinions requested by a third party who is a medical practitioner currently involved in the medical care of the patient from whom the pathological material was originally obtained.

Request 2:
In the event that your DHB deviates from the aforementioned RCPA policy, I request an explanation for why your DHB deviates from best practice.

Please note, my request does not reflect the standard of care provided at your DHB, but is to ascertain whether there is consistent adherence to RCPA best practice amongst all NZ DHBs.

Yours faithfully,

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt

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From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended)

Dear OIA Request [HVDHB],

This is just a gentle reminder that I am still waiting for the information I requested in March. I trust there will be no further delay.

Yours sincerely,

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt

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From: OIA Request [HVDHB]
Hutt District Health Board

Dear Amy

Your request was sent last week. Have you not received it?

Regards

Robyn Fitzgerald

Robyn Fitzgerald | Correspondence Officer | Hutt Valley District Health Board |  Pilmuir House | Lower Hutt    
DDI: 04 570 9488  |   [email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt <[FOI #12507 email]>
Sent: Friday, 29 May 2020 2:56 PM
To: OIA Request [HVDHB] <[email address]>
Subject: Re: H20-21-45 due date 22 April 2020

Dear OIA Request [HVDHB],

This is just a gentle reminder that I am still waiting for the information I requested in March. I trust there will be no further delay.

Yours sincerely,

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt

-----Original Message-----

Dear Amy

Thank you for your request for official information, received by Hutt Valley District Health Board on 23 March 2020.

Your request has been received and logged. As required under the Official Information Act 1982, we will respond to your request within 20 working days. You should receive a response on or before 22 April 2020.

If a large amount of information has been requested or if the district health board needs to consult in order to make a decision, we may need to extend this date (this is provided for in section 15A of the Act). We will advise you if such an extension is necessary.

Hutt Valley District Health Board provides the first five hours of staff time to prepare a response free-of-charge. If your OIA is expected to take longer, we will inform you of the charges, and give you the opportunity to change or refine the request to reduce or remove the need to charge.

It should be noted that many key staff involved with the sourcing and preparation of material for your OIA request are also directly involved with work associated with COVID-19.

This may impact on our ability to respond to certain OIA requests within normal timeframes.

Our reference number for your request is: H20_21-45.

Kind regards

Robyn Fitzgerald

Robyn Fitzgerald | Correspondence Officer | Hutt Valley District Health Board |  Pilmuir House | Lower Hutt    
DDI: 04 570 9488  |   [email address]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #12507 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended)

Dear OIA Request [HVDHB],

My sincerest apology. I did receive the combined response from Capital & Coast. This was an excellent response and I really appreciated the adherence to the principles of transparency.

Yours sincerely,

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt

Link to this

From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended)

Dear OIA Request [HVDHB],

My sincerest apology. I did receive the combined response from Capital & Coast. This was an excellent response and I really appreciated the adherence to the principles of transparency.

Yours sincerely,

Amy S Van Wey Lovatt

Link to this

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