Disclosure of information to a meeting around potential cost savings in Hospital and Specialist Services.
Jeeves R Ponzi made this Official Information request to Health New Zealand
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Jeeves R Ponzi to read a recent response and update the status.
From: Jeeves R Ponzi
Dear Health New Zealand,
On 13th of August 2024, the Health Commissioner Mr Lester Levy issued the following statement:
13 August 2024
Kia ora,
As Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners, we want to set the record straight on our frontline clinical staff.
Earlier today, a staff member presented some information to a meeting around potential cost savings in Hospital and Specialist Services.
For the avoidance of doubt, what was presented is in direct conflict with our thinking and should be dismissed.
As Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners, we are absolutely committed to a strong clinical frontline to drive better health outcomes for New Zealanders.
The clinical frontline is key to helping ensure faster and easier access to healthcare for people, wherever they live.
The clinical frontline will not be cut or reduced, and our plans are to strengthen it.
We do of course have a serious financial problem and as part of our reset at Health NZ we need to make sure we live within budget, but not at the expense of the clinical frontline.
These staff play a critical and valued role in lifting productivity to better respond to acute care demand and deliver more planned care. We know that’s what New Zealanders expect and need us to do.
Ngā mihi,
Commissioner Lester Levy and Deputy Commissioners Ken Whelan and Roger Jarrold.
Please provide, as a matter of urgency (due to the unprecedented speed of the current 'Health Reset'):
a) The information referred to which the staff member disclosed, and the Commissioner referred to, in full.
b) all correspondence (including Text messages, TEAMS messages or meetings, Emails and /or any other means) between (either received or sent) the Commissioner and/or his Deputies (or their Officers), or Health NZ Chief Executive or her Office, in any direction, which refer in any way to this disclosed information, for the period covering from Midnight Monday 12th August, and Midnight Wednesday 14th August.
I trust this request satisfies any condition under the ACT regarding Particularity or Specificity, and given the very narrow timeframes expressed, will not involve a degree of compilation burdensome to Health NZ.
Yours faithfully,
Jeeves R Ponzi
I am a resident of New Zealand.
From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe,
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Ngā mihi
Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora.
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From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe Jeeves,
Thank you for your email asking for the following information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
"Please provide, as a matter of urgency (due to the unprecedented speed of
the current 'Health Reset'):
a) The information referred to which the staff member disclosed, and the
Commissioner referred to, in full.
b) all correspondence (including Text messages, TEAMS messages or
meetings, Emails and /or any other means) between (either received or
sent) the Commissioner and/or his Deputies (or their Officers), or Health
NZ Chief Executive or her Office, in any direction, which refer in any way
to this disclosed information, for the period covering from Midnight
Monday 12th August, and Midnight Wednesday 14th August."
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 October 2024.
This extension is required because the consultations required 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 www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Shane Sharma
Government Services
Spark Central, 44-48 Willis Street, Wellington| PO Box 5013, Wellington
6140
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora
[2]www.TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. http://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/
From: Jeeves R Ponzi
Dear hnzOIA,
This delay is completely unacceptable- you have not given a reason stated under the ACT, you have just made an excuse.
This request was made under URGENCY- and NO CONSULTATION is required.
The request does not ask the Parties' permission for the information- the request demands the information, and does so under urgency.
The request is deliberately specific and particular, and cover communications between a very small group of people over a very restricted timeframe about a very specific matter.
Yours sincerely,
Jeeves R Ponzi
Jeeves R Ponzi left an annotation ()
Can't do it anonymously, or with a pseudonym unfortunately.
More than happy for you to do so....in fact I'd appreciate it.
JS left an annotation ()
Hey Jeeves, if you don't get a response by next week (9 October), I'm happy to put a complaint into the Ombudsman. Can you please make a statement on here authorising me to do this? Follow the template here – https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/what...
Jeeves R Ponzi left an annotation ()
Jeeves here- absolutely Authorised and encouraged.
JS left an annotation ()
I have made a complaint to the Ombudsmen. You should try to contact Health NZ directly again for follow up.
This is a matter of public importance. Senior leaders submitted a proposal to lay off significant numbers of clinical staff and there should be accountability and transparency around which leaders submitted this proposal and why.
JS left an annotation ()
It may also be worth asking for an unredacted version of the minutes for the meeting and the exact proposal document that suggested cutting the workforce by 4492 staff.
From: Jeeves R Ponzi
Dear hnzOIA,
This URGENTLY REQUESTED OIA is now overdue-substantially, and a complaint has been made to the Ombudsman.
By law, the authority should normally have responded promptly and by September 11, 2024
You requested a delay, which I declined as there was no reason for same.
Please complete the request, in full, immediately
This is a matter of significant public interest
Yours sincerely,
Jeeves R Ponzi
JS left an annotation ()
Jeeves, I have also submitted a new OIA asking for communications regarding this OIA. The delay is excessive, in breach of the act, and communications will provide transparency around the decision-making process that has been followed.
https://fyi.org.nz/request/28715-overdue...
Jeeves R Ponzi left an annotation ()
Good on ya!
They'll give us nothing, just duck n dive....
But I appreciate your assist. Cheers.
From: hnzOIA
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Kia ora Jeeves,
Thank you for your request for information on 14 August 2024, I apologise
for the delay in providing our response. Please find attached our response
to your request.
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,
Hannah
Government Services (OIA)
[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:[email address]
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
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Similar requests
Overdue OIA – disclosure of communications regarding potential clinical service cost savings
To Health New Zealand by JS
JS left an annotation ()
Jeeves, you should consider going to the Ombudsmen regarding this delay. TWO has the resources to fulfil this request and is delaying it without good cause. This is a matter of public interest and the executive staff making proposals that thousands of clinicians should be laid off, should have their communications, proposals and briefing documents made publicly available.
Link to this