Thank you for your email request - you will receive a formal acknowledgement from us - kind regards diana

Diana Marriott
Communications Manager

Bay of Plenty District Health Board
DDI: 07 579 8029
[mobile number]
www.bopdhb.govt.nz

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Dear Mr Walker

Receipt is acknowledged of your OIA request of 2 October 2019. A response will be made to you as soon as possible.

Regards
Maxine

Maxine Griffiths
Board Secretariat
CEO Office

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On behalf of Debbie Brown,  Senior Advisor,  Governance & Quality

 

Dear Mr Walker

 

In response to your OIA request of 2 October 2019,  we provide the
following information:

 

1.    The particulars of any communications to GP's or other medical
professionals regarding the availability of dermatology services.

There have been no specific or formal communications from the DHB to GPs
with respect to Dermatology Services.

 

The following link provides information for GP’s and the public on the
access criteria for Dermatology
[1]https://baynav.bopdhb.govt.nz/dermatolog...

 

2.    An indication as to how many dermatology appointments have been made
in the past 6 months.

The table below details the number of appointments held for Medical
Dermatology  identified as number of visits – IP and we have included the
number of non-attendance visits (number of visits – virtual) which provide
referrers to the service with advice on treatment etc. having reviewed the
patient information (include images of dermatological issue).

 

3.    An indication as to how many dermatologists are currently employed
to work from the Tauranga hospital, in any capacity, and any changes to
staffing levels in the previous 3 years.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) contracts this service to
an external provider.

 

4.    The steps BOP DHB are currently taking to ensure dermatology
referrals are being seen to in a timely manner.

BOPDHB through its external provider grades each referral to the service
and makes appointments as per the elective services initiatives of the
Ministry of Health.

Given the constraints on service delivery and limited resource to respond
to growing demand, the service has developed a well-defined pathway that
allows GPs to refer cases with a high quality photograph to the service.
This type of referral is reflected in the “virtual” cases count above. The
dermatology service can then prioritise those referrals that it needs to
physically see against those that can be dealt with by providing advice
directly back to the GP.

 

There have been delays for some patients in accessing services due to a
shortage of Dermatologists. However, in conjunction with the service
provider a temporary solution has been put in place to have patients seen
directly through their 3rd party facility. This solution is temporary
until permanent resource is in place later this year.

 

 

Regards

Maxine

 

Maxine Griffiths

Board Secretariat

CEO Office

 

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