Kia ora Anthony-John

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024040949

  

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/  

  

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account.  

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services Team 

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Anthony-John van Duuren
<[FOI #26655 email]>; 
Received: Tue May 07 2024 12:38:49 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>; 
Subject: Official Information request - Request for Information Regarding
Hospital Policies on Medication Use, Specifically Medical Cannabis

Dear Ministry of Health,

I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act
1982 concerning the policies and regulations that govern the treatment and
administration of prescribed medications, including medical cannabis,
within hospital settings. My recent experiences during medical treatment
at both Hawke's Bay Hospital and Wellington Hospital have highlighted
several issues regarding these policies, specifically relating to the use
of medical cannabis.

1. Requirement to Administer Medicine Outdoors and Smoke-Free Regulations:
Although I am not a smoker and understand that hospitals adhere to
smoke-free regulations without designated smoking areas, I was required to
administer my prescribed medical cannabis outdoors during my recovery in
Wellington. This requirement, seemingly in contradiction to smoke-free
regulations that explicitly exclude medical cannabis, forced me to leave
the hospital premises, exposing me to low temperatures and nearby security
risks during a police incident involving a machete and firearm
([5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
I seek clarification on the legal basis for this policy, which appears to
breach patient rights.

2. Confiscation and Differential Treatment of Controlled Drugs:
Upon my arrival at Wellington, my prescribed medical cannabis was
confiscated, cited as standard procedure for controlled substances. Yet,
fentanyl, another controlled substance, was administered to another
patient within hospital premises without the need for them to go outside.
This discrepancy raises significant concerns about potential double
standards in the handling of controlled drugs.

I seek clarification on the legality of this confiscation. Please provide
a copy of this policy in full for my review so I can better understand how
my medication was handled when outside of my possession.

3. Fire Safety Claims and Evacuation Policies:
At Hawke's Bay Hospital, the head of security warned that using my medical
cannabis vaporiser inside could trigger smoke alarms and necessitate an
evacuation, thus I was compelled to use it outside of hospital grounds. I
request detailed information on the fire safety regulations and specific
evacuation policies that support this claim.

4. Breach of Duty of Care:
As a patient officially admitted to the hospital, it is concerning that
the hospital's policies required me to leave the premises to use my
legally prescribed medication, potentially compromising my safety and
recovery. This practice seems to neglect the hospital's duty of care to
its patients, especially those recently out of surgery and in a vulnerable
state. I seek explanations on how these policies align with the hospital's
responsibilities towards patient safety and care.

Given these points, I respectfully request the following information:

The specific Ministry of Health regulations or policies that require
patients to administer certain medications, such as medical cannabis,
outside hospital premises, especially considering the exemptions in
smoke-free regulations.

Details on the standard procedures for the confiscation and administration
of controlled drugs, with specific emphasis on the distinctions between
medications such as medical cannabis and fentanyl.

Clarifications regarding fire safety regulations and evacuation policies
related to the use of vaporisers and other similar devices within hospital
settings.

All training material provided to healthcare staff in regards to Medical
Cannabis.

Clarity on these matters is crucial for my understanding and to ensure
that all patients receive equitable and safe treatment while under
hospital care. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward
to your prompt response within the statutory 20 working days as provided
under the Official Information Act.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony-John van Duuren

 

****************************************************************************
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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. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/35026439...

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Anthony-John,

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 7 May 2024.

Manatû Hauora does not hold any information relating to your request;
however, I have been advised that this information is held by Te Whatu Ora
– Health New Zealand. For this reason, I have decided to transfer your
request to their agency under section 14(b)(i) of the Act. You can expect
a response from Te Whatu Ora ([1][email address]) in due
course.  

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

Ngâ mihi

OIA Services Team
Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health
[3]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Anthony-John van Duuren
<[4][FOI #26655 email]>; 
Received: Tue May 07 2024 12:38:49 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: OIA Requests <[5][email address]>; OIA
<[6][email address]>; 
Subject: Official Information request - Request for Information Regarding
Hospital Policies on Medication Use, Specifically Medical Cannabis

Dear Ministry of Health,

I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act
1982 concerning the policies and regulations that govern the treatment and
administration of prescribed medications, including medical cannabis,
within hospital settings. My recent experiences during medical treatment
at both Hawke's Bay Hospital and Wellington Hospital have highlighted
several issues regarding these policies, specifically relating to the use
of medical cannabis.

1. Requirement to Administer Medicine Outdoors and Smoke-Free Regulations:
Although I am not a smoker and understand that hospitals adhere to
smoke-free regulations without designated smoking areas, I was required to
administer my prescribed medical cannabis outdoors during my recovery in
Wellington. This requirement, seemingly in contradiction to smoke-free
regulations that explicitly exclude medical cannabis, forced me to leave
the hospital premises, exposing me to low temperatures and nearby security
risks during a police incident involving a machete and firearm
([7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
I seek clarification on the legal basis for this policy, which appears to
breach patient rights.

2. Confiscation and Differential Treatment of Controlled Drugs:
Upon my arrival at Wellington, my prescribed medical cannabis was
confiscated, cited as standard procedure for controlled substances. Yet,
fentanyl, another controlled substance, was administered to another
patient within hospital premises without the need for them to go outside.
This discrepancy raises significant concerns about potential double
standards in the handling of controlled drugs.

I seek clarification on the legality of this confiscation. Please provide
a copy of this policy in full for my review so I can better understand how
my medication was handled when outside of my possession.

3. Fire Safety Claims and Evacuation Policies:
At Hawke's Bay Hospital, the head of security warned that using my medical
cannabis vaporiser inside could trigger smoke alarms and necessitate an
evacuation, thus I was compelled to use it outside of hospital grounds. I
request detailed information on the fire safety regulations and specific
evacuation policies that support this claim.

4. Breach of Duty of Care:
As a patient officially admitted to the hospital, it is concerning that
the hospital's policies required me to leave the premises to use my
legally prescribed medication, potentially compromising my safety and
recovery. This practice seems to neglect the hospital's duty of care to
its patients, especially those recently out of surgery and in a vulnerable
state. I seek explanations on how these policies align with the hospital's
responsibilities towards patient safety and care.

Given these points, I respectfully request the following information:

The specific Ministry of Health regulations or policies that require
patients to administer certain medications, such as medical cannabis,
outside hospital premises, especially considering the exemptions in
smoke-free regulations.

Details on the standard procedures for the confiscation and administration
of controlled drugs, with specific emphasis on the distinctions between
medications such as medical cannabis and fentanyl.

Clarifications regarding fire safety regulations and evacuation policies
related to the use of vaporisers and other similar devices within hospital
settings.

All training material provided to healthcare staff in regards to Medical
Cannabis.

Clarity on these matters is crucial for my understanding and to ensure
that all patients receive equitable and safe treatment while under
hospital care. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward
to your prompt response within the statutory 20 working days as provided
under the Official Information Act.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony-John van Duuren

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail 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:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. mailto:[FOI #26655 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]
7. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/35026439...

hide quoted sections

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.

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

Kia ora Anthony-John,
 
Thank you for your request for information regarding medicinal cannabis on
9 May 2024. 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,
 
Miranda
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:[email address]
2. file:///tmp/
3. mailto:[email address]