Dear Ministry of Health,

Sent on the 2/05/2018 at 2.50pm via FYI.
To whom it may concern,
This document contains an OIA request for information held by the Ministry of Health

Submitted by: Kate Aschoff
[email address]
Wellington 6021

Kia ora,

I am requesting information about psychiatric wards/units at the main Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch hospital.

My questions are as follows:

A) How many beds do each of the different centers hold in these wards?
B) What is the maximum stay in these wards for patients?
C) What is the official admission criteria?
D) What are the number of near deaths/harm in these wards in the past 3-8 years?
E) What are the number of suicides in these wards in the past 3-8 years?
F) What is the protocol for when the ward is full but there is a patient who very clearly meets any admission criteria?
G) As of 2/05/2018 do any of the hospital psychiatric wards in the country use isolation/solitary confinement as a means of protection, for an individual or others?
H) What sort of care or support is offered for those leaving the ward and returning into the community?

If any of this information is not on file I would then like to request why it has not been deemed as relevant information to collect. If any of this information is redacted I would then like to inquire the purposes for that redaction, including who it is aiming to protect or benefit.

Thank you for your help and I look forward to your response.

Kate O'Connell