Taranaki District Health Board
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
Telephone 06 753 6139
Fax: 06 753 7770
Email
: [email address]
www.tdhb.org.nz
Taranaki Base Hospital
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
Phone: 06 753 6139
Fax: 06 753 7710
Hāwera Hospital
Post Office Box 98
22 May 2020
Hāwera
New Zealand
Phone: 06 278-9929
Fax: 06 278 9910
Stratford Health Centre
Phone: 06 765 7189
Amy S Van Wey Lovatt
Opunake Medical Centre
(CoastalCare)
Email:
[FYI request #12108 email]
Phone: 06 761 7324
Pātea Health Centre
Phone: 06 273 8088
Waitara Health Centre
Phone: 06 754 7150
Mōkau Health Centre
Dear Ms Van Wey Lovatt
Phone: 06 752 9723
Re:
Official Information Act
I am responding on behalf of Taranaki District Health Board (DHB) to your OIA request of
3 April 2020, which was partially transferred to Taranaki DHB on 6 May 2020. You have requested
the following information:
The MoH Operational Policy Framework 2019/20, available through Nationwide Service Framework
Library <https://nsfl.health.govt.nz>, states under section 7.5.2 "Regions should ensure that clear
referral pathways are in place and known to all clinicians."
Given that every DHB must "ensure that clear referral pathways are in place and known to all
clinicians", clearly such policies must exist, and thus section 18(g) cannot apply to my request.
Request 1:
Thus, I request, under section 13 and 14 of the OIA that you please assist me in obtaining these
policies even if it requires transferring my request to each and every DHB or another relevant agency,
which would have the required information.
While Taranaki DHB does not have a formal written policy on referral pathways outside of the
Taranaki region, apart from the attached guidelines, we are in a unique position in that we have
historically used specific services from other DHBs in New Zealand due to our geographical location
and medium sized DHB.
For example:
Neurology services are provided by a visiting neurology service from Auckland DHB. Referrals
into our service are prioritized by the visiting Neurologists themselves and
appointments/investigations are arranged as required.
MidCentral DHB provide a visiting service for Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and
Haematology patients.
Neurosurgery is provided by Capital Coast DHB.
Continued…
All referrals to another hospital or specialty service outside of the Taranaki region are made by, or on
behalf of, Senior Medical Officers of Taranaki DHB only. Since 2012, any referrals from General
Practitioners are not accepted by these providers unless they receive written approval from Taranaki
DHB also.
I trust the above information answers your OIA request.
Yours sincerely
Gillian Campbell
Chief Operating Officer
Enc.