ADVICE FOR GENERAL PRACTICE: DON’T SEEK NEWBORNS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Did you read the article yesterday in NZ Doctor on best practice advice for enrolment of babies?
An immunisation taskforce has presented recommendations to Te Whatu Ora on this.
In an effort to raise immunisation rates, general practices will be advised against asking to see newborns’ birth certificates as a pre-requisite for enrolment.
Some highlights from the article:
• Aim to create really clear guidelines around this on HealthPathways
• Parental eligibility trumps need for birth certificate
• All children under 18 are eligible if they are in the care of a parent who is eligible
• The Ministry of Health regulations don’t stipulate that you need a birth certificate.
• Counties Manukau report published last year shows the worst impact is on Māori children: It’s particularly Māori children who have been disproportionately dropped off when their pre-enrolment isn’t converted to full enrolment. By the age of three months, they just drop off your system.
The Immunisation Taskforce’s 54 recommendations include nine specifically to deal with the problems around newborn enrolment, including:
• Te Whatu Ora remove the advice to require a birth certificate
• Creation of an “opt-out” system in which continued enrolment is the default, and
• Enabling direct birth notification from hospitals and lead maternity carers to PHO enrolment systems.
Te Whatu Ora has said it accepts all of the taskforce’s recommendations and has begun to implement 26 of them.
Read the Article on NZ Doctor here: Advice for general practice: Don’t seek newborns’ birth certificates | New Zealand Doctor (nzdoctor.co.nz)
or see attached file.