Media Policy

TDH's Media Policy provides assistance and support to staff with media requests for patient information, employee information, organisational/corporate information and information made available voluntarily to the media. 

The following staff are authorised to be official spokespeople for Tairawhiti District Health:

• Chairperson
• Chief Executive
• Chief Medical Advisor
• Medical Officer of Health
• Director of Nursing
• Maori Health Manager
• Communications Manager
• Duty Nurse Manager

No other staff member may act as a spokesperson for TDH without being delegated that authority from the Chief Executive or the Chairperson.

TDH will endeavour to have an open and honest relationship with the media. 

Nothing in its media policy shall prevent any professional member of staff from making public comments in a personal capacity on their professional or clinical specialty provided such comments are consistent with the current or announced policy and practices of TDH.

Additionally, nothing in the policy shall prevent any professional staff from sharing information for the purposes of peer review type activities nor prevent the Medical Officer of Health from carrying out the duties of his/her legislated role. 

TDH employees are legally obligated to comply with the Health Information Privacy Code, the Code of Health and Disability Consumers’ Rights and the Privacy Act, with respect to ‘health information; collected, used, held and disclosed by TDH.

PATIENT NAMES ARE NOT DISCLOSED TO THE MEDIA.

If the patient or his/her representative expressly request that NO information be given to the media, their request is respected, and thus prevents any disclosure to the media.

The Health Information Privacy Code allows only for the release of very basic details of injuries where it is not practicable or desirable to seek authorisation.

 

Media Requests for Filming/Photographing on Site

TDH will cooperate with requests for film or photographs to accompany news items, where this does not pressure staff in the course of their work, and for which permission is obtained from the manager of the particular area, and patients or their representatives if relevant.

Media photographers are required to have approval from the Chief Executive before filming or photographing on TDH property. If they do not have approval they must cease filming/photographing and wait until approval is sought from and given by the Chief Executive or Communications Manager.

Media photographers and any other media personnel must report to the Communications Manager on arrival to arrange Visitor Identification Badges from Security. They must also be escorted around TDH facilities by an employee designated by the Chief Executive or Communications Manager. Staff shall notify the Communications Manager if any media are identified on site without prior approval.