Find recent updates regarding the Cyclone Gabrielle response from ACC, Te Whau Ora and more.

A new Te Whatu Ora website gives people and their whānau an easier pathway to find free support for mild and moderate mental health and addictions issues.

Pathlab want to re-emphasize the importance of correct labelling of specimens to facilitate optimal processing of patient samples. The consequences of a labelling error not being detected or resolved can result in avoidable patient harm.

Practice Plus is now able to offer in-hours virtual locum support for dedicated practices, where capacity is low due to staff sickness, or planned/un-planned leave.

The department of radiology at Te Whatu Ora Taranaki will accept direct referrals from GPs for hip ultrasonography to evaluate for developmental dysplasia of the hip, as per the relevant Health Pathway. Please include in the referral all information necessary for the radiologist to confirm the Health Pathway is being followed. Abnormal ultrasounds should be referred to orthopaedic surgery.

Electronic ordering of laboratory tests allows Pathlab to receive requests electronically. This process is currently being rolled out across the Waikato and Lakes. Registered nurses ordering laboratory investigations via this process will need to continue to annotate the form with the letter “NLAB”. Pathlab has confirmed that this can be manually added into the clinical details box on the digital form.

Summerset Pohutukawa is seeking GP expressions of interest (EOI) to provide primary care services to a new build, aged residential care facility in Taranaki when it opens later in the year.

Cyclone Gabrielle has devastated many parts of the east coast of the North Island. In Hawke's Bay this is now significantly affecting the resilience of the local general practices, pharmacies and other primary and community providers who are getting tired and need locum support. Te Whatu Ora is centrally coordinating a workforce response, with particular focus on general practice and pharmacy. An online form has been created to offer help.

Te Whatu Ora is encouraging healthcare providers and professionals to be alert to the symptoms of whooping cough and to encourage immunisation due to concerns about potential underlying community spread.

Collaborative Aotearoa want to measure the uptake of general practice telehealth and digital health across the motu. This information will support them in understanding what's working and what's not working for general practice. Your time and input in this 10-minute survey is valued, thank you for helping Collaborative Aotearoa understand where to put their improvement efforts.