A message from Dr Jo Scott-Jones, Pinnacle medical director regarding the eligibility criteria for subsidised iron infusions.

Collaborative Aotearoa has created a resource to support general practices when employing a paramedic or extended care paramedic (ECP) into their practice. This resource will likely evolve as the scope of practice becomes more established and recognised. Practices may value this resource as a starting point for exploring the addition of an ECP to their team.

There has been a significant increase in pertussis cases across the motu since the beginning of May. Te Whatu Ora is asking healthcare professionals to be on alert.

Te Whatu Ora has received notice of a 49-hour strike from 7am Thursday 30 May until 8am Saturday 1 June.

Next week is Privacy Week and the Privacy Commissioner is running a programme of free hour-long events, which will be recorded and added to their YouTube channel.

Some of these topics will be of particular interest to Pinnacle, a few examples include: Māori data sovereignty is too hard, A hacker’s view of data breaches, Busting myths around privacy and cyber security, What’s missing from the conversation on AI, and others.

There is currently a significant outbreak of dengue fever in Samoa. Please remain vigilant for recent travellers who may present with symptoms.

Have you thought about employing a newly graduated registered nurse? Te Whatu Ora Waikato nurse entry to practice (NETP) programmes are a supported transition to the role of registered nurse. New graduate nurses are selected from Aotearoa New Zealand training centres through the ACE recruitment programme. If you are interested in recruiting a new graduate registered nurse from the September 2024 intake, or would like more information, please contact the Pinnacle nurse leads by 7 June.

The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) draft statement, Treating yourself and those close to you, outlines that wherever possible doctors should not treat themselves or those with whom they have a close relationship. It acknowledges there are exceptional circumstances when doctors may have to treat themselves or people close to them, and outlines ways to maintain best practice in those circumstances. MCNZ is inviting feedback on this draft statement before consultation closes Friday 24 May 2024.

GPNZ and Te Whatu Ora have created a survey to collect insights to improve the GP2GP service. Practice managers are invited to please contribute to this discovery by filling in this short survey, which should take no more than ten minutes.

Te Whatu Ora is introducing new funding to support the development of the primary health workforce. The new funding will focus on further education and skills development for health workers in the primary and community care workforce.