23 May 2023
Scout Barbour-Evans
[FYI request #22390 email]
Tēnā koe Scout
Your request for Official information, reference: HNZ00015730
Thank you for your email on 5 April 2023, asking for the following which has been considered
under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“I am looking to understand some choices that have been made around where wil
"require", "recommend", or "encourage" the use of face masks by staff and patients in
hospitals. I understand that in all hospitals visitors are required to mask, but the
requirement for staff or patients to mask varies by hospital.
In particular I'm interested in some advice that has been received regarding the contents of
this webpage: www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-the-health-sector/covid-19-information-for-
health-professionals/covid-19-information-for-all-health-professionals/covid-19-infection-
prevention-and-control-recommendations-for-health-and-disability-care-workers/mask-
wearing-healthcare-settings/
I would like to see,
1. Internal discussion, guidance or advice about how patients and community members wil
interpret and understand "require", "recommend" or "encourage" in the context of face
masks - and why these were the terms chosen.
2. Internal discussion, guidance or advice on any formulae or criteria that health districts
could use to decide whether they should "require", "recommend" or "encourage" face
masks, and how a health district might go about choosing to change their level of
mandatory mask use.
3. Internal discussion, guidance or advice about whether patients at outpatient services and
their support people should be considered "visitors" or "patients" in the context of wearing
face masks at the hospital, given that the official line is stil that visitors must mask across
the board.”
Information within scope of this request is itemised in the table below and copies of the
documents are enclosed as the Appendix. The table outlines the grounds under
which I have decided to withhold information. Where information is withheld under section 9 of
the Act, I have considered the countervailing public interest in release in making this decision
and consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time. Information deemed ‘out of
scope’ of your request has been identified and removed accordingly.
Doc # Date
Title
Decision on release
1
8 Feb 2022
Email: NR request for review of
Released with some
COVID-19 national masking guidance information withheld under
and legislation
section 9(2)(a), to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
2
9 Mar 2023
Email: Mask advice update. Patient
Released with some
rights
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a), to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
Doc # Date
Title
Decision on release
3
7 Oct 2022
Email: Visitors IPC Guidance
Released with some
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a), to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
4
29 Nov 2022
Agenda 13 December 2022
Released with some
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) and some
information identified as ‘Out of
scope’.
5
29 Nov 2022
Agenda Minutes: IPC Subgroup of
Released with some
TAG COVID-19
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) and some
information identified as ‘Out of
scope’.
6
7 Dec 2022
Minutes - ARC Operational Leadership Released with some
Group
information identified as ‘Out of
scope’ and therefore, withheld.
7
13 Dec 2022
Minutes: IPC Subgroup of TAG
Released with some
COVID-19
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) and some
information identified as ‘Out of
scope’.
8
21 Dec 2022
COVID-19 Clinical Advisory Group
Released with some
minutes
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) and some
information identified as ‘Out of
scope’.
9
Not dated
Mask Guidance
Released in full
The terms ‘require’, ‘recommend’ and ‘encourage’ are defined in the ‘Guidance for minimum mask
use and additional PPE selection in healthcare settings February-May 2023’ document, which was
aimed at health professionals. These terms are used at various stages through the document,
depending on setting. For example, a medical mask is recommended when providing care in
hospital settings. The document states the use of these terms wil be updated “according to
changes in the national situation, current epidemiology and other factors (e.g. facility-based
outbreak, staff resourcing)”. The document is designed to provide minimal guidance for dif erent
health situations and was aimed at the health care risks from February to May.
Regarding patients at outpatient services, th
e Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act
defines a health service role as “assessing, improving, protecting, or managing the physical or
mental health of individuals or groups of individuals.” By extension, a person who attends these
services for health care is a patient, even in an outpatient setting.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[Health New Zealand request email].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
by phoning 0800 802 602.
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Te Whatu Ora may
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. Al requester data, including your name
and contact details, wil be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Chris Scahil
Group Manager | Kaiwhakahaere Ropu
National Coordination and Response & Office of the Director
Outbreak Response
