18 February 2025
Lauren Doocy
[FYI request #29028 email]
Tēnā koe Lauren
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00078190
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), which was transferred
from the office of Hon Matt Doocey on 4 February 2025 to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
asking for the following:
‘Outline what, if any, resourcing has been provided to health and ambulance services to
address the mental health transition. A dollar figure wil do. If the answer is $0, please just
say so.’
Response
Unfortunately, your request is refused in full under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act to maintain the
constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and
officials.
Health NZ continues to work closely with ambulance providers nationally and locally to ascertain
any impact. At this stage, there has not been a significant increase to emergency ambulance
volumes following the implementation of Phase One of the Police MH Programme of Change. This
takes into account existing work for the ambulance sector prior to the Police MH Programme of
Change through emergency ambulance services and patient transfer service work.
Furthermore, Health NZ can advise there is work underway to implement additional training and
security resources as part of strengthening Emergency Department (ED) security, particularly in
our larger EDs. Over time elements of this work wil be rolled out to smaller and rural EDs. There is
also a wider health and safety focus on supporting staff with training and guidance to help manage
violent and aggressive people. Health NZ is taking opportunities to leverage this activity wherever
possible and to ensure support and guidance are available for both urban and rural healthcare
facilities.
The ED Security Improvement Programme has budget for FY24/25 and programme delivery is
underway and on track. This funding is separate to work being undertaken around Police’s change
to mental health response, but the Programme is aligned with mental health practice and will
improve the skil s and confidence of ED clinicians and security teams in mitigating the harms of
violence at work. Additionally, this programme also provides budget for one additional permanent
security position in each of the EDs of eight large urban hospitals, and funds surge security staff for
all hospitals with EDs when required for high-risk periods.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[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 a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
by phoning 0800 802 602.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Karla Bergquist
Director, Specialist Mental Health and Addiction
Planning, Funding and Outcomes
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Health NZ, PO Box 793,
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
