What is in this Issue?
PRIMARY CARE CLINICAL DIGEST
MARCH 17 2023
1. ACC Primary Care Provider Update March 2023
2. Primary, Community and Rural Early Actions Programme Update
3. Changes to Drug Driving Legislation
4. Safe Access to Opioids Engagement
5. Extension to Deadline for the Proposal to Phase Out Funding of Food Thickeners in the Community
6. Update for Pharmacists in General Practice week ending March 10 2023
7. Top Weekend Viewing
ACC Primary Care Provider Update March 2023
See attached document
• Please refer the attached update for information on:
o Cyclone Gabrielle response
o Upcoming webinars
o Changes to cost of treatment regulations
o Cultural safety resource
o Turning off paper remittance advice
o Guiding principles for preventing and managing healthcare associated infections now live
o Update on concussion service proof of concept
o Goodfellow Unit series: Surgical-mesh complications
Primary, Community and Rural Early Actions Programme Update
• For those who attended the online webinar updating on the Primary, Community and Rural Early Actions programme this week, some key priorities within the programme were discussed:
o The Equity Adjustment to Capitation.
o Workforce Development Funding.
o Extended Care in primary and community settings.
o Introduction of Comprehensive Primary and Community Care Teams, including the new roles of pharmacist, care co-ordinator, physiotherapist and kaiāwhina.
• The recorded session can be viewed here
• Some Q&As will be available to share in the coming weeks.
• Any feedback or to connect with the team, please contact earlyactionsprogramme@health.govt.nz
Changes to Drug Driving Legislation
See attached document
Safe Access to Opioids Engagement
• New laws on drug driving came into affecting 21 prescription medicines and 4 illicit drugs. New drug driving legislation | New Zealand Police
• See the attached for some high level key messages and Q&As that can be passed on to the sector.
• The Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora is seeking feedback on a range of options to ensure safe access to opioids for people who need them.
• You can read the engagement document and make your submission here
• Additional feedback can be provided at a web-hui on Wed March 22 2023 5.30pm-6.30pm or Tue March 28 2023 7.30pm – 8.30pm.
Extension to Deadline for the Proposal to Phase Out
Funding of Food Thickeners in the Community
Update for Pharmacists in General Practice week ending March 10 2023
See full notice attached for wider information
• To register your interest in attending the web-hui please email safeopioiduse@health.govt.nz by March 20 2023.
• Submissions close at 5pm on 31 March 2023.
• The deadline for responses to the consultation to phase out funding of food thickeners in the community has been extended, giving more time for interested stakeholders to provide feedback.
• Deadline for responses is now 4.00pm May 31. Follow this link to the consultation.
• Cyclone Gabrielle – please see important updates here for those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
• See here for information on Te Whatu Ora funding primary healthcare delivery in affected regions.
• Supply Issue:
o Buspirone hydrochloride (Buspirone Vaitris) tab 5 mg Pharmac website
o Capsaicin (Zostrix and Zostrix HP) Pharmac website
o Empagliflozin with metformin (Jardiamet) tab 12.5 mg with 1000 mg metformin Pharmac website
o Liraglutide (Victoza) listed from March 1 2023 global supply issue
• Pharmac confirms widened access for funded flu vaccine Pharmac website
• COVID-19 Information for Prescribers:
o Pharmac website – COVID-19 oral antivirals: Access Criteria
o Aotearoa's COVID-19 treatment portfolio
o Access Criteria Assessment Tool
o More information on Covid-19 Pharmac website
Top Weekend Viewing
• We’re got a bit of a mixed bag for this weekend’s viewing
fun, dark and just downright weird!
o Travel Guides Australia (TVNZ+) – the latest series, with the Fren family, as always, being very entertaining.
o Peaky Blinders (Netflix) – gripping six-series drama about a Birmingham gang of criminals based on historical fiction.
o The Kings of Pain (TVNZ+) – a biologist and professional animal handler allow deadly animals to bite/sting them to rate them on a pain index – mad but compelling!