What’s in this issue?
PRIMARY CARE CLINICAL DIGEST
SEPTEMBER 8 2023
1. Immunisa�on Update September 7 2023
2. HPV Primary Screen ‘Go Live’ Update September 8 2023
3. Nurse Pay Gap Advocacy – RAPID Data Collec�on
4. Simplify to Unify – Commissioning External Recruitment
5. COVID-19 Model of Care Changes Q&A Live Event Access
6. Safe Access to Opioids – Update on Changes to Prescribing Regula�ons
7. Decision to Fund Medicines for Haemophilia A and Mul�ple Sclerosis
8. Elevated Iodine Levels Found in Seaweed Tonic
9. Goodfellow Unit Con�nuing Professional Development: Webinars and F2F Event
10. Te Pātaka Whaioranga (Pharmac) Kauneke Update September 2023
11. AIR Update Reminder
12. ACC Primary Care Provider Update September 2023
13. Supply Updates for Pharmacists September 8 2023
14. Updates for Pharmacists in General Prac�ce September 1 2023
15. Top Weekend Viewing
Immunisation Update
September 7 2023
View online
• The Immunisa�on update for this week can be viewed online and covers the following:
o Bexsero reminder: catch up and scheduled vaccines for under 5s
o Aotearoa Immunisa�on Register - update
o Vaccina�ng Health Worker Prac�cal Assessor criteria change
o Tamariki immunisa�on schedule - pull up banner available in Dropbox
o Closing soon: Reimbursement for flu vaccina�ons for nonTe Whatu Ora client and pa�ent facing staff
o Regular reminder on collateral
HPV Primary Screen ‘Go Live’ Update
September 8 2023
HPV Primary Screening implementation updates
Join the NCSP HPV Primary Screening ‘go live’ livestream
• On Tuesday September 12 Aotearoa New Zealand will switch to HPV primary screening as the new method of cervical screening. The HPV primary screening test is a quick and simple swab that people can choose to do themselves. It detects the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes more than 95 percent of cervical cancers.
• The new test will be launched at an invita�on-only event at Kōkiri Marae in Lower Hut. Associate Minister of Health
Willow-Jean Prime will be in atendance and you are invited to join online 10:30am – Noon Tuesday September 12 2023 using this link.
• The launch also marks the start of free cervical screening for those at higher risk or require follow up, as well as people aged 30 and over who have never had a cervical screen, or who haven’t had a screen in the last five years. Free screening also applies to Community Services Card holders and Māori and Pacific people.
‘Go live’ information packs
• Please visit the Transi�oning to HPV Primary Screening sec�on of Understanding HPV Primary Screening webpage for all of the informa�on needed to prepare for ‘go live’ on Tuesday September 12 2023. You can find training, support, resources, and provider toolkits all in the same place
New NCSP-Register HPI number requirements
• The Na�onal Cervical Screening Programme will introduce a new NCSP-Register on Tuesday September12 2023. This register differs from the exis�ng register but the most significant difference is the requirement for an HPI number. The NSU number will no longer be used.
• The Health Provider Index (HPI) is a na�onal database holding informa�on to iden�fy health providers. All those wishing to access the new NCSP-Register require an HPI number.
• You can find more informa�on about HPI and NSU numbers by visi�ng the website
Funding information now available
• Te Whatu Ora has worked with Primary Health Organisa�ons (PHOs) and other screening providers to agree a funding model for NCSP HPV Primary Screening. A Leter of Intent is being put in place with PHOs and other cervical screening providers covering the new funding pricing / scheduling and payment mechanisms.
Fee (plus GST)
Rou�ne screen (ie: Māori, Pacific and CSC holders who are not un/under-screened) $35
All un/under-screened wāhine and people with a cervix $50
All follow-up tes�ng $50
• The contract payment and repor�ng mechanisms currently in place will be used to distribute funding. The Na�onal Public Health Service (NPHS) of Te Whatu Ora, will work in partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora and cervical screening providers to design and implement Phase 2, including developing a contract varia�on which is equity-focused and fit for purpose.
Nurse Pay Gap Advocacy –RAPID Data Collection
• Future funding informa�on as it becomes available can be found here
Participant resources available for local printing and download
• All print resources are immediately available for downloading and local prin�ng on the HealthEd website. Find all par�cipant resources needed to promote HPV Primary Screening, aid discussion with par�cipants, or to explain sample collec�on in one convenient, online loca�on.
‘Drop in’ for more ‘go live’ information and support
• Visit the Training, Support, and Resources sec�on of the website’s Understanding HPV Primary Screening page for transi�on support, the latest updates, or to find a helpful dropin session �me.
• Drop-in sessions are being held throughout the transi�on to NCSP HPV Primary Screening. These will let you join a session at a �me convenient for you to ask ques�ons or seek support and get immediate answers.
• The support sec�on of the page also contains Healthpathways portal informa�on related to local regions. Also, please join the Healthpathways webinar with Dr John McMenamin and Dr Jus�ne Lancaster, on Tuesday September 12 2023.
• GPNZ is working alongside a range of other organisa�ons regarding the pay gap for primary and community nurses, and the resul�ng impact on workforce and service provision.
• To support the advocacy work we need up-to-date data on nurse vacance FTE and the impact it is having on service provision.
• Please fill in this very short form, survey closes Monday 18 September.
• For more informa�on please contact marie.simpson@gpnz.org.nz
Simplify to Unify –Commissioning External Recruitment
• Te Whatu Ora on Commissioning External Recruitment as they began external recruitment for 28 commissioning roles in the first of several waves likely to extend into the new year. These roles span the life course approach, have a na�onal or regional focus, and require a range of professional skills from people at various stages in their career.
• Also embedded in the email are two documents on informa�on covering:
o Commissioning External Recruitment
o Commissioning Final Decision Document
COVID-19 Model of Care Changes
Q&A Live Event Access
• The number of atendees at the first Q&A live event held last week was low so the Q&A session on Wednesday September 6 has been cancelled. You can watch the recording of last week’s session and if you s�ll have any ques�ons rela�ng to the Model of Care changes please feel free to submit them through the Microso� form in this link open un�l Friday September 15.
Safe Access to Opioids –Update on Changes to Prescribing Regulations
• To access the recording, click HERE and use the password careinthecommunity
• Cabinet has approved amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regula�ons 1977 to ensure more appropriate restric�ons on the prescribing limits of controlled drugs, such as opioids. These will come into effect on 5 October 2023. You can find an update on these changes here. The FAQs that provide more detailed informa�on on the changes.
Decision to Fund Medicines for Haemophilia A and Multiple Sclerosis
Elevated Iodine Levels Found in Seaweed Tonic
• Pharmac is widening access to emicizumab (Hemlibra) for severe haemophilia A without FVIII inhibitors and ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for primary progressive mul�ple sclerosis from October 1 2023. Please follow this link to the no�fica�on.
What you need to know
• The Ministry of Primary Industries and the Public Health Agency has released a warning about seaweed tonic that has been sold for consump�on across the motu.
• The affected product contains elevated iodine levels and should not be consumed. Pathogens and other heavy metals may also be of concern.
• Consumers of the product are advised to contact the Na�onal Poisons Centre if they have concerns about their health.
Action for clinicians
• The Public Health Agency is promp�ng clinicians to ask those presen�ng with thyroid ae�ology about the use of supplement/tonics, no�ng the product makes various health claims that may make it appeal to people with cancer seeking alterna�ve and/or supplementary therapies.
• New Zealand Food Safety has not received any no�fica�ons of associated illness, but asks if you are aware of any associated illnesses to contact them Food.compliance@mpi.govt.nz
Further information
• Official informa�on is available on the website.
Goodfellow Unit Continuing
Professional Development: Webinars and F2F Event
• Webinars:
o
o
o
September 12: Managing complex pa�ents with mul�ple condi�ons Register here
September 19: Adult transgender pa�ent care Register here
September 26: What’s new - Hand/finger injuries, and chronic back pain Register here
o October 3: Primary preven�on of UV radia�on Register here
o October 10: The scope and impact of Nurse Prac��oners Register here
o October 17: Understanding breathing patern disorders Register here
• F2F Event:
Te Pātaka Whaioranga (Pharmac) Kauneke Update
September 2023
View online
o October 14: RNZCGP Auckland Faculty Mental Health and Addic�ons Day Register here
• September’s ACC kauneke update covers the following:
o Welcoming Dr Nicola Ngawa�, Director Equity and Engagement
o New Consumer Advisory Commitee Chair and Deputy Chair
o Working with Te Whatu Ora to enable beter access to vaccines
o Suppor�ng Māori pharmacy students with the Hiwinui Heke Māori Pharmacy Scholarships
o Building rela�onships with a joint na�onal medical devices ac�on plan
o Welcoming a new board member – Dr Margaret Wilsher
o Sharing data – a new memorandum of understanding
AIR Update Reminder
• If you’ve missed the AIR Cutover series, videos are now available and can be viewed here AIR Cutover Series
• To join the final webinar on Tuesday September 19, you can register here
• Travel vaccina�ons can now be recorded using the AIR vaccinator portal.
ACC Primary Care Provider Update
September 2023
View Online
• See this month’s ACC Provider update covering:
o Understanding the importance of medical cer�fica�on
o Integrated Care Pathways Musculoskeletal (ICPMSK)tender now open
o Home & Community Support Services contracts - tender now open
o Innova�on Fund moves to Stage Two
o Cultural safety resources to support you and your prac�ce
Supply Updates for Pharmacists September 8 2023
View online
• See supply update covering:
o New medicine no�ces
o Updated issues
o Resolved issues
o Recent decisions
o Open consulta�ons
o Monthly updates
Updates for Pharmacists in General Practice
September 1 2023
View online
Supply issues:
• Nutricia food products – see Nutricia medicine no�ce for updates.
• Oestradiol (Estradot) patches – Pharmac have taken the first step in the process to consider funding other oestradiol products, and are in the early stages of inves�ga�ng funding oestradiol gel in addi�on to the patches. Further informa�on can be found here.
• Salbutamol inhaler (Respigen) – some Respigen stock has been released to wholesalers in the week ending September 1 2023
Top Weekend Viewing
and the stock situa�on is being monitored. See Pharmac website for more informa�on.
• Dulaglu�de (Trulicity) 1.5 mg – further supply constraints, for more informa�on, see the dulaglu�de supply issue no�ce
• For up-to-date information about supply issues please check the Pharmac website
Brand change:
• Ima�nib (Glivec) tablet is changing brand. The new brand is called Ima�nib-Rex and comes as a capsule. The final delivery date for Glivec to people with GIST is October 25 2023. In October/November, people with GIST will need to get a prescrip�on for ima�nib and present it to a pharmacy to con�nue accessing funded ima�nib. Further informa�on is available on the Pharmac website
Expressions of Interest for Pharmac’s Advisory Committees:
• If you are interested in being involved in Pharmac’s clinical advice network, see Pharmac website, please send an email to advisorycommittees@pharmac.govt.nz outlining your specific clinical area(s) of interest.
• This week we are looking at some quirky movies which you will either love or hate! They may even be cult classics to some viewers. Either way, they will bring a smile to your face….hopefully!
o The Ballard of Buster Scruggs (Ne�lix) - An anthology containing six short films all occurring in 19th-century postCivil War America during the setling of the Old West. Watch trailer
o Hello My Name Is Doris (Ne�lix) - Doris, a woman in her six�es, becomes fond of John, her co-worker, and tries every trick in the book to grab his aten�on. Watch trailer
o Swiss Army Man (Apple TV) - Hank gets stranded on an island and decides to end his life. However, he no�ces a body at the shore and goes to inves�gate. Eventually, he befriends the dead body and the two embark on an adventure. Watch trailer