The Assisted Dying service is sharing this update about the service specifications, payments and process in the hope of stimulating interest in doctors and nurse practitioners in becoming providers. As with all end of life care, this is complex work that can be incredibly rewarding. Dr Jo is happy to have a conversation with individuals or teams about the Assisted Dying service.

From 1 June Pathlab will only accept referrals via an online form. Pinnacle is approaching Pathlab to ask if they would consider developing a BPAC referral form.

New guidance has been published on the prevention of rheumatic fever. There are many changes in this comprehensive document from previous guidelines, with much more emphasis on equity, and social determinants of health and their impact, and how those risks can be mitigated. There are also changes to the guidance on the identification and management of strep A infections. Read more here and on our new rheumatic fever resources page.

On 1 July 2025, Te Whatu Ora is moving the courses currently available on LearnOnline to their two main learning sites – Ko Awatea Learn and healthLearn. If you have completed training on LearnOnline and wish to have a record of completion and any associated certificates, please log into LearnOnline before 30 June 2025 and download them.

The New Zealand Psychologists Board is now consulting on the development of a regulatory framework for a new scope of practice, currently being referred to as Assistant / Associate Psychologist. View the full consultation document, feedback form and plain language summary here on our website. You can provide your feedback using the online survey or via email to the New Zealand Psychologists Board. The consultation is open until 16 June 2025.

Pathlab utilise bpac guidelines to reflex FT4 and/or FT3 based on TSH results. This process is fully automatic, and the reflex tests are reported with the TSH result. Pathlab is seeing many requests for FT4 where the TSH is within reference limits. Some of these requests may be valid and they do not want to restrict useful tests. However, FT4 is often requested with TSH for no good reason. Pathlab will shortly be removing FT4 from the front page of the electronic order form. It will remain searchable and requestable to requestors. Their intention is to encourage best practice as detailed in the bpac guidelines

Te Whatu Ora is seeking expressions of interest from health professionals across primary, community, mental health, public health and other healthcare providers from each of the four regions (Northern, Central, Te Manawa Taki and Te Waipounamu). Regional expressions of interest are open and will close on Friday 23 May 2025. For full details see the Te Whatu Ora job website.

Further to Te Whatu Ora AIR update communication, please note the ‘Evolution Immunisation Update - April 2025’ does not apply retrospectively to historical records. Practices should continue to follow their usual processes for managing changes to historical immunisation records—for example, where appropriate updating PCV10 to PCV13.
The national AIR team currently has a programme of work underway to explore technical solutions to better support this in the future.

Negotiations between PHOs and Te Whatu Ora Health NZ kicked off last week. For those practices who nominated Pinnacle MHN as their agent, Dr Jo Scott-Jones is representing you in the contracted provider caucus and has been selected as one of the four negotiators. It is important your practice is connected in these negotiations. If your practice does not know who your contracted provider caucus representative is, and you'd like to sign up with Pinnacle, please contact Yazmin Dorey, senior administrator.

Consumer NZ, in partnership with EECA and the Electricity Authority, is supporting those at risk of energy hardship by distributing DL-sized brochures across Aotearoa. aims to reach communities nationwide through DL stands in high-traffic areas, and is looking for trusted community partners to help distribute them. There is no cost to practices willing to display these brochures.