To: Residual Health Management Unit, P.O. Box 996, Wellington.
Attention: Ian Miller.
Dear Sir,
I refer to the situation whereby the Southland District Health Board holds funds received on behalf of patients before
1 July 1993 and the amount held for particular patients cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, together with any liability to compensate the owners of such money (hereafter referred to as the "Southland unclaimed patient funds").
I note that it was always the intention that patient funds held on behalf of former mental health patients not be transferred to the relevant health bodies by the transferring ministers.
These monies, commonly referred to as "frozen patient funds", were excluded assets under the 1993 transfer of assets and liabilities to Crown Health Enterprises.
Advice I have received is that the Southland unclaimed patient funds are similarly excluded assets.
I therefore give written notice, under section 58 (2) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, that the Residual Health Management Unit be given the function of being the constructive trustee of the Southland unclaimed patient funds accumulated prior to 30 June 1993, including all interest accrued thereon, pending determination of disposal according to law.
Dated at Wellington this 19th day of April 2001.
ANNETTE KING, Minister of Health.