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 Lakes 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
From: Shan Tapsell
Lakes District Health Board
Thank you for your request for information under the Official Information
Act. This request has been logged. Senior Lakes DHB staff are currently
very busy managing the COVID-19 pandemic and will let you know within the
20 working days when we may be able to respond.
Please note, we may publish the letter and any related documents you have
requested on the Lakes DHB’s website. The personal details of the
requester will be removed.
Shan Tapsell
Assistant Communications Officer
Lakes District Health Board
Rotorua Hospital
Pukeroa Hill
Private Bag 3923
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Phone (07) 349 7955 extn:8491
From: Theresa Fraser
Sent: Sunday, 22 March 2020 7:57 a.m.
To: Shan Tapsell
Subject: Fwd: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from
third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
<[1][FOI #12508 email]>
Date: 22/03/2020 4:31 AM
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from third
party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
To: CEO Office <[2][email address]>
Cc:
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #12508 email]
Is [4][Lakes District Health Board request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Lakes District Health Board? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[6]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
[7]www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
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legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
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delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
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References
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1. mailto:[FOI #12508 email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #12508 email]
4. mailto:[Lakes District Health Board request email]
5. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
6. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
7. http://www.lakesdhb.govt.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Theresa Fraser
Lakes District Health Board
Good Morning
Further to our previous emails of 24 March acknowledging receipt of your
two OIA requests and advising that you could expect to receive a response
within 20 days we would now like to formally
decline your requests in accordance with the Official Information Act.
At this time we, along with other DHBs and many other agencies, have
diverted significant resources across the organisation to support the
COVID-19 response.
Lakes DHB is unable to respond to your request under 18(f) of the Official
Information Act, as the information cannot be made available with the same
are people tasked with efforts for the COVID-19 response. Both
your requests are associated with Laboratory Services who are heavily
involved in the COVID-19 response. Lakes DHB is not in a position to
commit the resources required to respond to your request at this time. It
is also not reasonable to extend the timeframe to respond at this time.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decision made under this request.
The health sector is working hard to ensure that the public is informed
about COVID-19, with information updated daily on the Ministry of Health’s
website at [1]www.health.govt.nz
Kind regards
Theresa Fraser , Executive Assistant to Chief Executive
Lakes District Health Board
Private Bag 3023, Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Phone +64 7 349 7982
Fax +64 7 349 7868
Email [2][email address]
From: Shan Tapsell
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2020 5:48 p.m.
To: '[FOI #12508 email]'
Subject: FW: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from
third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
Thank you for your request for information under the Official Information
Act. This request has been logged. Senior Lakes DHB staff are currently
very busy managing the COVID-19 pandemic and will let you know within the
20 working days when we may be able to respond.
Please note, we may publish the letter and any related documents you have
requested on the Lakes DHB’s website. The personal details of the
requester will be removed.
Shan Tapsell
Assistant Communications Officer
Lakes District Health Board
Rotorua Hospital
Pukeroa Hill
Private Bag 3923
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Phone (07) 349 7955 extn:8491
From: Theresa Fraser
Sent: Sunday, 22 March 2020 7:57 a.m.
To: Shan Tapsell
Subject: Fwd: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from
third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
<[3][FOI #12508 email]>
Date: 22/03/2020 4:31 AM
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from third
party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
To: CEO Office <[4][email address]>
Cc:
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #12508 email]
Is [6][Lakes District Health Board request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Lakes District Health Board? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[7]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is in confidence and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute, or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
[9]www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is in confidence and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute, or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
[10]www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
Kind regards
Theresa Fraser , Executive Assistant to Chief Executive
Lakes District Health Board
Private Bag 3023, Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Phone +64 7 349 7982
Fax +64 7 349 7868
Email [11][email address]
From: Shan Tapsell
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2020 5:48 p.m.
To: '[FOI #12508 email]'
Subject: FW: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from
third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
Thank you for your request for information under the Official Information
Act. This request has been logged. Senior Lakes DHB staff are currently
very busy managing the COVID-19 pandemic and will let you know within the
20 working days when we may be able to respond.
Please note, we may publish the letter and any related documents you have
requested on the Lakes DHB’s website. The personal details of the
requester will be removed.
Shan Tapsell
Assistant Communications Officer
Lakes District Health Board
Rotorua Hospital
Pukeroa Hill
Private Bag 3923
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Phone (07) 349 7955 extn:8491
From: Theresa Fraser
Sent: Sunday, 22 March 2020 7:57 a.m.
To: Shan Tapsell
Subject: Fwd: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from
third party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
<[12][FOI #12508 email]>
Date: 22/03/2020 4:31 AM
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Policy on requests from third
party providers of pathology specimens for second opinion
To: CEO Office <[13][email address]>
Cc:
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[14][FOI #12508 email]
Is [15][Lakes District Health Board request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Lakes District Health Board? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[16]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[17]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is in confidence and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute, or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
[18]www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is in confidence and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute, or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
This email has been scrubbed for your protection by SMX. For more
information visit smxemail.com
References
Visible links
1. http://www.health.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #12508 email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[FOI #12508 email]
6. mailto:[Lakes District Health Board request email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
9. http://www.lakesdhb.govt.nz/
10. http://www.lakesdhb.govt.nz/
11. mailto:[email address]
12. mailto:[FOI #12508 email]
13. mailto:[email address]
14. mailto:[FOI #12508 email]
15. mailto:[Lakes District Health Board request email]
16. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
17. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
18. http://www.lakesdhb.govt.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended)
Dear Theresa Fraser,
This is a gentle reminder that I am still waiting for the information I requested in March. In the event that your agency contracts out pathology services, I respectfully requests that you transfer my OIA request to the appropriate agency pursuant to section 14 of the OIA.
In the event that your agency does not have a formal policy, then please answer the question with "standard practice" in place of "policy".
I also would like to bring to your attention that section 18(f) of the OIA cannot be invoked without first having met the conditions in section 18B of the Act. Your agency has not met those conditions, and thus 18(f) is not applicable. I appreciate that responses have been delayed due to Covid-19, but I trust that there will be no further delay since NZ has allegedly beat Covid-19.
Yours sincerely,
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
From: Shan Tapsell
Lakes District Health Board
Hi Amy
Please see our response to your OIA.
Shan Tapsell
Assistant Communications Officer
Lakes District Health Board
Rotorua Hospital
Pukeroa Hill
Private Bag 3923
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Phone (07) 349 7955 extn:8491
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is in confidence and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute, or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is
www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
This email has been scrubbed for your protection by SMX. For more
information visit smxemail.com
From: Amy S Van Wey Lovatt (Account suspended)
Dear Shan Tapsell,
Thank you for the thorough response (and bit of humour). This really was excellent.
Yours sincerely,
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
From: Shan Tapsell
Lakes District Health Board
I am currently working Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5.00pm. If your query is urgent please ring cell 027 234 2793
I will reply to your e mail when I am back in the office.
Thanks
Shan Tapsell
Communications Team
Phone 07 3481199 ext 8491
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain information that is in confidence and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate, distribute, or copy this message or attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. The Lakes District Health Board website is www.lakesdhb.govt.nz
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