Tēnā koe, 

 

Thank you for contacting Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora. This is an automatic
reply to confirm that we have received your email.  Depending on the
nature of your request you may not receive a response for up to 20 working
days.  We will try to respond to your query as quickly as possible.

 

 

Ngā mihi

 

Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora.

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delete this message

Tēnā koe Andy,

Thank you for your email of 25 May 2024, asking for the following
information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):

In June 2023, Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall announced a review/evaluation of the
Equity Adjustor Tool.

Under the OIA, please provide me with:

- a copy of any final report that was produced at the conclusion of the
review/evaluation
- a summary of the main findings review/evaluation
- a summary of the changes, if any, that have resulted from the
review/evaluation
- or, an update on the review/evaluation and any interim findings if the
review/evaluation has not been completed

Please also answer the following questions:

- Is the Equity Adjustor Tool still in use?
- if it is still in use, please explain in what settings and how it is
being used
- On 19 September 2023, in response to an OIA request, your organisation
said: "Patients are first prioritised according to their clinical need and
placed into a clinical category. The equity tool is then used to help
determine the order in which patients are booked for surgery within each
clinical category. Factors taken into consideration include the length of
time someone has been waiting, Māori or Pacific ethnicity, patients from
low socio-economic areas and those living in rural areas." Is this still
an accurate characterisation of how the tool is being used?

This email is to let you know that Health NZ needs more time to make a
decision on your request.

The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
decision, to 9 July 2024. However, we will endeavour to provide a response
prior to this date where possible.

This extension is required because the external consultations necessary to
make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot
reasonably be made within the original time limit.

If you have any questions, please contact us
at [1][email address]

If you are not happy with this extension, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.

 

Nāku iti noa, nā

 

Caroline
Government Services
[3][email address]   

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Statement of confidentiality: This email 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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
3. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]

Tēnā koe Andy,
 
I would like to apologise for the continued delay in providing a response
to your request for information dated 25 May 2024. Thank you for your
patience.
 
We regret that the consultations necessary to make a decision on your
request are taking longer than expected. We are committed to providing a
response as soon as possible and want to assure you that this has been
prioritised and we will provide a further update shortly.
 
Nāku iti noa, nā
 
Caroline
Government Services
[1][email address]   

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Andy R <[FOI #26995 email]>;
Received: Tue Jul 16 2024 14:59:58 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: hnzOIA <[email address]>; HNZ OIA
<[email address]>;
Subject: Re: Health New Zealand needs more time to make a decision on your
request HNZ00049749 CRM:0401354

Dear Health New Zealand,

This information request is now one week late. Can you please provide me
with an update on its progress as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
Andy R

-----Original Message-----

Tēnā koe Andy,

 Thank you for your email of 25 May 2024, asking for the following
 information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):

 In June 2023, Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall announced a review/evaluation of the
 Equity Adjustor Tool.

 Under the OIA, please provide me with:

 - a copy of any final report that was produced at the conclusion of the
 review/evaluation
 - a summary of the main findings review/evaluation
 - a summary of the changes, if any, that have resulted from the
 review/evaluation
 - or, an update on the review/evaluation and any interim findings if the
 review/evaluation has not been completed

 Please also answer the following questions:

 - Is the Equity Adjustor Tool still in use?
 - if it is still in use, please explain in what settings and how it is
 being used
 - On 19 September 2023, in response to an OIA request, your organisation
 said: "Patients are first prioritised according to their clinical need
and
 placed into a clinical category. The equity tool is then used to help
 determine the order in which patients are booked for surgery within each
 clinical category. Factors taken into consideration include the length of
 time someone has been waiting, Māori or Pacific ethnicity, patients from
 low socio-economic areas and those living in rural areas." Is this still
 an accurate characterisation of how the tool is being used?

 This email is to let you know that Health NZ needs more time to make a
 decision on your request.

 The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
 later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
 Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
 therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
 decision, to 9 July 2024. However, we will endeavour to provide a
response
 prior to this date where possible.

 This extension is required because the external consultations necessary
to
 make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot
 reasonably be made within the original time limit.

 If you have any questions, please contact us
 at [1][email address]

 If you are not happy with this extension, you have the right to make a
 complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
 at
[2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
by phoning 0800 802 602.

  

 Nāku iti noa, nā

  

 Caroline
 Government Services
 [3][email address]   

 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

 Statement of confidentiality: This email 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

References

 Visible links
 1. [2]mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
 2.
[3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
 3. [4]mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #26995 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Statement of confidentiality: This email 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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. mailto:[health
3. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
4. mailto:[health
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Andy R,
 
Thank you for your request for information regarding the Equity Adjustor
Tool Review, on 25 May 2024. Please find attached our response to your
request.
 
I wish to apologise for the delay in providing our response and thank you
for your ongoing patience. The time taken is not what we aspire to. This
is something we are working to get on top of as we deal with a high volume
of requests and the understandably high public interest in our work.  
 
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address].
 
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 [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
 
Ngā mihi,
 
 
Caroline
Government Services
[3][email address]   
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Statement of confidentiality: This email 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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. file:///tmp/
3. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]