Updated: Planned strike action by NZNO union members
Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Clinical | Management | 09/12/2024

Te Whatu Ora has received notice of further strike action by members of the NZNO union. This means nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives who are union members and employed by Te Whatu Ora at Rotorua and Taupō Hospitals will be undertaking a further full withdrawal of labour on Friday 13 December from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. They will also be undertaking a full withdrawal of labour on Tuesday 17 December from 1pm to 5pm involving all hospitals across Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Te Whatu Ora primary and community sector placement funding
Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Clinical | 09/12/2024

In November, Te Whatu Ora announced funding for the primary and community sector to support the placement of 200 new graduate registered nurses (RN) into employment.

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Pathlab: Hepatitis B serological testing update
Waikato | Lakes | Clinical | 04/12/2024

Pathlab has reviewed Hepatitis B serology requesting. Due to the range of serological assays that can be requested for this infection, this can be a potentially confusing area for both requestors and the laboratory receiving the requests. With this in mind, Pathlab has put together some brief guidance.

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Public health advisory update: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu)
Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Clinical | 03/12/2024

Following a detection of cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza/HPAI (also commonly known as avian flu or bird flu) subtype H7N6 in chickens on a poultry farm in Otago, Te Whatu Ora has published a public health advisory with an update on the disease, the health response underway, and guidance for clinicians.

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Pathlab: Non-collection of rectal swabs, STI swabs and STI urine specimens, and genital swabs
Waikato | Lakes | 02/12/2024

Effective immediately, Pathlab phlebotomists are not able to provide instructions or facilities for the collection of rectal swabs, STI swabs or STI urine specimen, or genital swabs.

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Hiberix and Varivax not funded from 1 December 2024
Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Clinical | 02/12/2024

Funding for Hiberix and Varivax will cease from 1 December 2024. The vaccines have been replaced by Act-HIB and Varilrix respectively. Practices should have stock of the new vaccines and should have already made the swap to these. If you have old stock remaining on 1 December, it needs to be returned to Propharma using usual processes.

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Pathlab: Histology turnaround time update
Waikato | Lakes | Clinical | 27/11/2024

Pathlab is seeing an increase in the volume of Histology requests in the lead up to Christmas. The turnaround time for results has increased as a result of this demand.

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Recent measles case highlights importance of ongoing vigilance
Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Clinical | Management | 20/11/2024

A measles case identified in Auckland had recently returned from Southeast Asia. Whilst infectious, the case visited three healthcare settings and a local Four Square on Waiheke Island, prior to being advised to isolate. All known close contacts have been contacted, and a small number are in quarantine. While the risk of transmission to the wider community is considered low, the National Public Health Service is asking healthcare professionals to please remain vigilant and take precautions.

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Pathlab: Skin prick testing no longer available at Pathlab Taupō
Lakes | Clinical | 19/11/2024

Skin prick testing is a specialised test to detect specific IgE antibodies to a range of allergens. Due to the very low volume of skin prick tests processed at Pathlab Taupō, and in commitment to service quality, Pathlab has discontinued skin prick testing at this site. Patients will instead be booked for the same testing at a different site, the closest being Rotorua – OPD Department – Rotorua Hospital.

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PSAAP meeting update
Lakes | Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Clinical | Management | 19/11/2024

The recent PHO Services Agreement Amendment Protocol (PSAAP) meeting took place 31 October and focused on updates related to the Primary Health Organisation Services Agreement (PHOSA) and outputs from working groups. Three themes emerged at many points during the meeting.

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