For information on the Official Information Act 1982, please go to:

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1982/0156/latest/DLM64785.html

Please note: Requests for health information by an individual about themselves or family/whanau members will be managed as a Privacy Act request – For general health record queries, phone 06 348 1277 or email clinicalrecordsrequest@wdhb.org.nz

Office hours are Monday to Friday 8am - 4.30pm.

For mental health record queries - please phone 06 348 3485 or email mentalhealthrecords@wdhb.org.nz

Making an OIA request for information held by the Whanganui DHB

Before making an OIA request, it may be useful to view information on the Whanganui District Health Board’s website, www.wdhb.org.nz. Whanganui District Health Board publishes useful information online on a regular basis such as:

• Annual reports and plans
• Media releases, key projects and initiatives.

The Ministry of Health publish a considerable amount of information on their website, so you may want to check the information you are after is not already publicly available before making a request.

https://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/my-dhb/whanganui-dhb

https://www.health.govt.nz/publications

If you wish to make a request for information held by the Whanganui District Health Board please send an email to oia@wdhb.org.nz

Whanganui District Health Board will make and communicate a decision on your request as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days after it was received (unless an extension is agreed).

We may extend the maximum time limit for transferring a request or making a decision and communicating it to you, if your request is for a large quantity of information or consultation is needed to make a decision on your request. Any extension must be for a reasonable period of time in the circumstances.

If you decide to amend or clarify your request, the amended or clarified version will be considered to be a new request and the 20 working days will start from the day after this new request is received.

In order to assist Whanganui District Health Board, and ensure you receive the correct information, be as specific as you can in identifying the information you want. The information you request must be specified with 'due particularity' - meaning that Whanganui District Health Board must be able to identify the information you have asked for. Any request that lacks due particularity will not be valid. If this is the case, we may contact you to clarify your request.

If you do not receive a response to your request for official information within the statutory time limit, or you are unhappy with the response you receive, you can complain to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s role is to “investigate and review” the agency’s decision (or lack of decision) on your request. The Ombudsman can be contacted via their website: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/