November is Diabetes Action Month and Diabetes NZ is calling on Kiwi's to Step Up For Diabetes, to prevent diabetes from reaching epidemic proportions in Aotearoa and help those already living with the disease to live well.

People who have worked for Te Whatu Ora, one of the former District Health Boards, or Health Alliance, Health Partnerships, Health Source or Northern Region Alliance at any time since 1 May 2010 may have been paid incorrectly for their leave. Te Whatu Ora is committed to addressing these issues, to ensure current and former Te Whatu Ora employees receive their correct leave entitlements.

A "quick notification" process has been set up in Waikato Hospital to ensure that if a patient dies whilst on a ward, their GP is made aware. Currently the practice may not be aware of a death until a discharge letter has been written and sent which can take several days or longer.

An update to the common form for the diabetes annual review will go live in the next few weeks. There are prompts for questions related to sexual health, specifically about erectile dysfunction for men and contraception and pregnancy planning for women of childbearing age. Please contact the diabetes lead in your area if you have any questions.

Significant changes are underway in the health system, driven by the experiences of the
COVID-19 response and the recent recommendations of the Immunisation Taskforce.
These changes range from simple to complex and will have an impact on the way Medical Officers of Health authorise vaccinators in their regions.

Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, is investigating access to mental health and addiction services. They want to understand the factors that impact people’s access to mental health and addiction services as well as what is contributing to changes in recent service use volumes.

Sue Nolan is now offering new trainee NZQA Zoom courses for both urine and oral fluid drug testing. Zoom refresher training courses are also available.

Te Whatu Ora is developing improvements to its Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment (CVDRA) and Heart Health Plan risk management services to support decision making and care planning, and to strengthen the way heart health risk is discussed with patients. They are looking for people aged between 30‒74 years, who are at risk of but do not have cardiovascular disease and are of Māori, Pacific or South Asian origin.

Practice Plus is seeking to enhance consumer engagement and experience through the promotion of equity and ensuring that services are organised and delivered at a high quality. An opportunity has arisen for a GP, nurse or practice manager, to join the Practice Plus service user committee.

Pinnacle has welcomed Dr Tony Muller as the new primary care liaison psychiatrist.