To help Te Whatu Ora understand the potential interest from primary care employers, they are asking for expressions of interest (EOIs) from general practices who may want to host placements from 2026.

Scholarships of up to $45,000 a year will be available for 120 registered nurses working in primary or community care. The funding can cover tuition, incentives for you and your employer, and travel/accommodation if needed. Applications close 30 September.

Pinnacle wants your feedback on Te Whatu Ora’s expectations around fees for urgent and acute GP appointments. Your views will help inform our advocacy and discussions with Te Whatu Ora. This issue may also be discussed as part of the PSAAP process, so you might also wish to share your feedback with your contracted provider negotiator.

Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) bowel screening was added into the Patient Prompt in 2022. Te Whatu Ora is pleased to share that further enhancements were made to the Bowel Screening Patient Prompt on Wednesday 10 September.

From 1 September 2025 the eligibility criteria widened for access to COVID-19 antivirals. The new addition to the eligibility criteria allows access for people who are 50 years and over and considered by their healthcare professional to be at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection. Other access criteria remain the same.

The Foot Protection Service (FPS) has a significant podiatry vacancy. This is impacting on their ability to meet the demands on the service. To manage this staffing deficit, they are temporarily modifying the referral acceptance criteria, to ensure they are providing assessment and intervention for those patients with the highest clinical risk.

The University of Otago is inviting health professionals who vaccinate adults to complete a short survey about needle length use in bigger-bodied patients. It’s anonymous, takes 10–15 minutes, and you’ll go in the draw for a $100 voucher.

Te Whatu Ora invites GPs to apply for membership of the Renal Regional Clinical Service Network (Renal RCSN) as a primary care representative.

Community Based Attachments (CBAs) are three-month placements where new doctors (PGY1 and 2) work in general practice under close supervision. They provide a valuable opportunity for practices to contribute to the development of the next generation of GPs, while receiving some funding support. Accredited practices play a vital role in offering safe, meaningful experiences for junior doctors — experiences that have been described as career-shaping, and even career-saving. If your practice is interested in exploring accreditation to host PGY doctors, please get in touch.

Te Whatu Ora is implementing mandatory national criteria for Community Referred Radiology from 1 September, 2025. Referrals not meeting these guidelines will be declined. This is intended to standardise access to imaging across Aotearoa and improve equity of care.