Next week is Privacy Week and the Privacy Commissioner is running a programme of free hour-long events, which will be recorded and added to their YouTube channel.

Some of these topics will be of particular interest to Pinnacle, a few examples include: Māori data sovereignty is too hard, A hacker’s view of data breaches, Busting myths around privacy and cyber security, What’s missing from the conversation on AI, and others.

There is currently a significant outbreak of dengue fever in Samoa. Please remain vigilant for recent travellers who may present with symptoms.

Have you thought about employing a newly graduated registered nurse? Te Whatu Ora Waikato nurse entry to practice (NETP) programmes are a supported transition to the role of registered nurse. New graduate nurses are selected from Aotearoa New Zealand training centres through the ACE recruitment programme. If you are interested in recruiting a new graduate registered nurse from the September 2024 intake, or would like more information, please contact the Pinnacle nurse leads by 7 June.

Dr Gina Kaye is the new Taranaki GP lead, joining the Taranaki Pinnacle team in April this year. Read more about Gina, as well as some of the latest updates around transfer of care, Te Whatu Ora diabetes referrals and an update on acute pyelonephritis or complicated UTI treatment.

The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) draft statement, Treating yourself and those close to you, outlines that wherever possible doctors should not treat themselves or those with whom they have a close relationship. It acknowledges there are exceptional circumstances when doctors may have to treat themselves or people close to them, and outlines ways to maintain best practice in those circumstances. MCNZ is inviting feedback on this draft statement before consultation closes Friday 24 May 2024.

Read the latest from GPNZ including a message from the chair Bryan Betty, GPNZ national member forum, April PSAAP meeting and more.

GPNZ and Te Whatu Ora have created a survey to collect insights to improve the GP2GP service. Practice managers are invited to please contribute to this discovery by filling in this short survey, which should take no more than ten minutes.

Te Whatu Ora is introducing new funding to support the development of the primary health workforce. The new funding will focus on further education and skills development for health workers in the primary and community care workforce.

This new once a month service is being trialled in South Taranaki. General practice is encouraged to refer patients for any sexual health concern including STIs, management of symptoms, contact tracing and more. Referrals can be made via BPAC.

This long awaited document was developed through the National Clinical Leaders Forum that describes the transfer of care and test result responsibility standards as agreed across the sector.