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NEWS

Important news & updates from Pinnacle

Celebrating GP leadership and community service
Pinnacle Incorporated | 30/07/2025

We’re proud to celebrate Dr Brendon Eade and Dr Sarah Callaghan, who are among 12 GPs recognised with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Community Service Medal for their outstanding contributions to community health.

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People Advocacy
Professional supervision short course
Pinnacle Incorporated | 07/08/2025

In response to the voices of the network captured in the Pinnacle Workforce Survey 2023, Pinnacle offered funded places for registered health professionals from within the network to have a further opportunity to upskill in professional supervision using a strength-based approach. This course is now full and future course dates are to be confirmed.

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Education
Funded papers towards a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Health Science (Health Leadership and Management)
Pinnacle Incorporated | 29/07/2025

Pinnacle MHN and the University of Waikato have co-designed papers towards a postgraduate certificate (PGCert) in health sciences (Health Leadership and Management). The programme will focus on the primary care setting and is jointly delivered by Waikato Management School and the Division of Health.

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Education
Applications open: Primary and Community Health Workforce Development Fund
Pinnacle Incorporated | 28/07/2025

On behalf of Hauraki PHO, NHC and Pinnacle, we are seeking kaimahi, working in primary and community care who are interested in further education skills development or study support.

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Education Funding
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PIN POINTS

Clinical & management notices from the sector

Growing the primary and community nursing workforce
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 07/08/2025

Te Whatu Ora is pleased to share three new funding opportunities to grow and support the primary and community care nursing workforce. These new funding opportunities aim to support new nurses to start their careers in the community, grow the pipeline of nurse practitioners and increase access to prescribing and advanced nursing care. 

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Upcoming changes to Community Referred Radiology access – effective 1 September
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 30/07/2025

Te Whatu Ora is introducing mandatory national criteria for Community Referred Radiology (CRR) from 1 September 2025, replacing the previous regionally adapted framework. These changes aim to standardise access and improve equity nationwide.

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New clinical guidelines for ADHD diagnosis and treatment published by Ministry of Health
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 30/07/2025

The Ministry of Health has published new clinical guidelines for the assessment and treatment of ADHD. Te Whatu Ora has confirmed that adult ADHD services will not be publicly funded and must be accessed privately. The framework supports GPs, who complete appropriate self-directed training, to diagnose and initiate treatment for ADHD. The College of GPs is developing an education package to support this training, expected to launch by Christmas 2025.

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Help shape the future of malnutrition care in Aotearoa
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | Management | 22/07/2025

Malnutrition is a serious health issue in Aotearoa, yet there is no national policy to guide care. Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is inviting primary health care professionals to complete a 10-minute survey to help build a clearer picture of current practice. If you work with adults in primary care, your input is valued. Survey closes Monday 4 August.

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Possible diacetyl exposure from recalled vaping product
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 22/07/2025

An alert has been issued to all EDs after 300 cartridges of Suntree Vanilla Cream vape solution were sold nationwide, containing four times the recommended limit of diacetyl — a substance linked to bronchiolitis obliterans. The risk to consumers is expected to be low due to limited exposure. If a patient presents with respiratory symptoms after using this product, please carry out a routine respiratory assessment and provide usual care as needed.

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Free community breastfeeding support
Taranaki | Clinical | Management | 22/07/2025

World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August) is a chance to celebrate and uplift breastfeeding as an important part of giving pēpi (babies) the best start in life. The Taranaki Whangai Ū (breastfeeding) group want to shine a light on the free, community-based lactation support services available to whānau. These services are easy to access — whānau can self-refer using the contact details on the sticker on the front of their pēpi Well Child book. General practice teams can also help by referring directly using the referral form attached, which can be sent to any of the providers.

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Recording vaping status
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 22/07/2025

Although vaping is not smoking, it is a health risk and should be recorded in clinical records. Recording vaping is additional to recording smoking status. Patients who have stopped smoking and are currently vaping exclusively can be coded as ex-smoking. Recording a person as ex-vaping has value, especially if the person is using vaping to quit smoking and will then quit vaping. The following SNOMED CT codes and Read codes should be used to record vaping status.

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Measles update: Wairarapa outbreak increases to 8 cases with one case in the Manawatu region
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 22/07/2025

Further to the public health advisory issued on 9 July 2025, NPHS is advising clinicians that there are now 8 cases linked to the Wairarapa measles outbreak. This includes one new case based in the Manawatu. The new cases are all known close contacts of the index case.

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Expression of Interest: New Graduate Nurse Employment for 2026
Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Clinical | 17/07/2025

We’re now inviting expressions of interest from practices keen to welcome a new graduate nurse to their team in 2026. With the Te Whatu Ora ACE recruitment process opening on 6 August 2025 (closing date TBC), this is your chance to indicate your interest early. We’ll work alongside your regional Te Whatu Ora Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP) coordinator to support the recruitment process and help ensure a smooth pathway into practice.

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QUICK LINKS

Looking for something?

Annual Performance Report 2023–2024
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Pinnacle workforce survey reports 2023
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Dynamed
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Midlands Region Community Health Pathways
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Pharmac medicine notices
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EMA contact details
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EAP Services
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RNZCGP website
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NZMC standards webpage
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Pinnacle Facebook GP discussion group
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Pinnacle Facebook practice manager discussion group
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Pinnacle Facebook nurses discussion group
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EVENTS

Professional development opportunities

B4 School refresher course (1 hour) Waikato region
Date: 12 August 2025
Audience: Nurse

B4 School Check refresher course (1-hour session) for registered nurse providers who have previously completed the two-day B4SC training.

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Education session: Heart failure - optimising care in the community
Date: 12 August 2025
Audience: GP

Join this practical discussion on improving heart failure management in the community. The session will cover drug optimisation as well as non-pharmacological management and supporting patients with nurse-led community clinics.

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Education/information evening: Management of abnormal uterine bleeding and ring pessary insertions
Date: 19 August 2025
Audience: GP

This education / information evening is open to all clinical general practice staff and relates to the two new pathways in Tairāwhiti.

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RESOURCES

Useful links, documents and resources

Greening general practice: A toolkit for sustainable practice
Published: 06/08/2025 | 6 links | Document

We are pleased to promote and share this toolkit, developed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

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People support and development
Published: 04/08/2025 | Website

We are not here to replace your current HR support, but to add value where we can. Currently we proactively support practices in a range of ways and respond to adhoc enquiries.

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Midlands Regional Health Network Charitable Trust: Facility development fund
Published: 30/07/2025 | Website

A facility development fund specifically to provide support in the form of grants for practices in the network investing in new buildings or upgrading their facilities.

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Taranaki
47 Molesworth Street
New Plymouth 4310
+64 6 759 4364
Tairāwhiti
Level 1
295-299 Gladstone Road (entrance via Cobden Street)
Gisborne 4010
PO Box 1188
Gisborne 4040
06 863 2661
Lakes
Level 1
95 Te Heuheu Street
Taupō 3330
PO Box 1716
Taupō 3351
+64 7 376 0060
Waikato
Norris Ward McKinnon House
Level 3
711 Victoria Street
Hamilton 3204
PO Box 983
Hamilton 3240
+64 7 839 2888
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Copyright © 2025 Pinnacle Incorporated
Privacy policy Terms & conditions Practice update dashboard
Copyright © 2025 Pinnacle Incorporated
Privacy policy Terms & conditions Practice update dashboard