Update from our New Zealand Branch

Kia Ora Koutou. I hope you, and your friends and family, are safe and have managed to avoid the worst of New Zealand’s recent flooding disasters.

Election 2023

This year’s election remains the top 2023 priority for the New Zealand Branch Committee and the New Zealand Radiation Oncology Executive. As I wrote in 2022, we plan to keep the wish list short and the messaging punchy and simple. The Election Priorities document is going through governance approval but will include the following priorities:

• The workforce crisis for radiation oncology has only deepened over the last few years and is compromising existing services and making the prospect of staffing new services in Northland, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay unlikely. The need for more trainees and a staff retention scheme remain the top priorities.

• A nationally interoperable RIS/PACS would enable reporting efficiencies and accuracy, reduce redundancy of imaging and improve regional access to subspecialist expertise. The creation of Te Whatu Ora, particularly in these early days, has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Te Whatu Ora is actively promoting interoperability and within a consistent nationwide health service—interoperable radiology should be part of the package.

Recent meetings

The NZ Branch Committee and the New Zealand Radiation Oncology Executive (NZROE) both met at the end of February. Discussion was interesting at both meetings with radiologists and radiation oncologists having suggestions for the Women’s Health Strategy, including Section 88 funding and better support for women undergoing long-term cancer treatment. If you have an opinion about what should be included in the Strategy, the Ministry of Health is taking submissions until the end of March.

The NZROE meeting included a sobering discussion about Dunedin. It is currently suffering a critical workforce shortage of radiation oncologists and is restricting access to service and transferring patients. The future of New Zealand’s radiation oncology service is a significant concern for the College.

The Musculoskeletal Group met with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) at the start of March.

The ACC reminded us once again that they are still not getting all the data points they need to track referrals, which helps them understand which referrals are arm’s length, and which are not. Please make sure you provide the provider and the individual number on your ACC claims.

The ACC also indicated there will be a consultation on rates fairly soon but no specific date was supplied.

NZRET Pikimairawea Award 2023

Nominations are now open for the Pikimairawea Award. Winners (one radiation oncologist and one clinical radiologist) will receive their awards at the NZ ASM. Please nominate a Fellow who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to and/or excellence in:

• research

• teaching and education

• any other activity that has benefited clinical radiology/ radiation oncology, their facilities or any of the services they provide.

The nomination forms are on the NZ Branch page of the College’s website.

New Zealand Radiology Education Trust (NZRET) Funding

For members that have any research or education initiatives planned in 2023, please consider applying for funding from NZRET. Information is available on the NZ Branch page of the College’s website or you can email trust@ranzcr.org.nz

Kia kaha. Stay safe, vigilant and strong.

If you have any thoughts, comments or suggestions, please email nzbranch@ranzcr.org.nz