17 June 2024
C182179
Caleb
[FYI request #26874 email]
Tēnā koe Caleb
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 19 May 2024 to the
Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa, requesting the following information:
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act (OIA)
regarding the waiting lists for medical services at the following prisons:
Rolleston Prison
Otago Correctional Facility
Rimutaka Prison
Mt Eden Prison
Specifically, I would like to know:
The current length of waiting lists for seeing a nurse, a doctor, and a dentist at each
of the mentioned prisons.
The longest time an individual has been on the waiting list for each of these services
at each prison.
Please provide this information in a tabular format, specifying the prison name, type
of service (nurse, doctor, or dentist), current waiting list length, and the longest
waiting time.
Staffing Levels and Resources:
How many healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, dentists) are currently
employed at each prison?
Are there any shortages of medical staff, and if so, how is this affecting service
delivery?
Appointment Scheduling and Prioritization:
How are appointments scheduled? Is there a centralized system, or do individual
units/prisons manage their own scheduling?
Are appointments prioritized based on urgency (e.g., emergency cases, chronic
conditions, preventive care)?
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
2
Communication Channels:
How do inmates request medical appointments? Is there a formal process, and
are they informed about their place on the waiting list?
Are there any communication barriers (language, literacy, etc.) that might affect
inmates’ ability to seek medical attention promptly?
Data Collection and Reporting:
How frequently are waiting lists updated? Is there a real-time tracking system?
Are there regular reports on waiting times, and are these accessible to the
public?
Quality of Care:
Are there any quality assurance mechanisms in place to monitor the healthcare
services provided?
How satisfied are inmates with the care they receive?
Corrections needs to extend the timeframe of our response to your request by 20 working
days, pursuant to section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA, as consultations necessary to make a
decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably
be made within the original time limit. Therefore, you can expect to receive a response to
your request by 16 July 2024. If you no longer require this information, please let us know as
soon as possible.
I hope this information is helpful. Please be advised that should you have any concerns
regarding this response you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate our
decision to extend the timeframe. Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box
10152, Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Nic Barkley
Manager Ministerial Services
People and Capability