Midlands Collaborative RNPCH programme reaccredited for another five years

Pinnacle MHN, as a member of the Midlands Collaborative, is proud to continue supporting the delivery of the Registered Nurse Prescriber in Community Health (RNPCH) programme across Te Manawa Taki.

The Collaborative was first recertified in 2020, becoming the second programme of its kind in Aotearoa. There are currently seven providers of this programme nationwide, with Midlands being the only region delivering it through a collaborative model.

Every five years, the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) undertakes a comprehensive reaccreditation process to assess programme quality. This includes reviewing programme structure, educational delivery and resourcing, clinical governance, and overall effectiveness.

The recent NCNZ feedback highlighted that the Midlands Collaborative is not only meeting but exceeding minimum standards in the way it delivers and supports its participants. As a result, the RNPCH programme has been granted approval to continue for another five years, an excellent endorsement of the quality, consistency, and commitment behind this mahi.

The designated RNPCH role is designed to enhance patient care by improving access to necessary medicines and increasing patient choice. It also enables effective use of nurses’ skills and education while maintaining high standards of safety. To date, 218 registered nurses have successfully completed the programme and recertified as RNPCHs, with 108 currently employed across Pinnacle network practices. This number will continue to grow as members of the current cohort complete their portfolios and progress to recertification.

Pinnacle MHN would like to acknowledge the organisations involved in the Midlands Collaborative, which brings together five Te Whatu Ora districts: Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairāwhiti, Taranaki and Waikato, and eight PHOs: Pinnacle MHN, Eastern Bay of Plenty Health Alliance, Western Bay of Plenty PHO, Ngā Mataapuna Oranga PHO, Rotorua Area Primary Health Services, Hauraki PHO, National Hauora Coalition, and Ngāti Porou Hauora.

Applications to the 2026 RNPCH programme are open until end of April.