Weekly Clinical Correspondence Panui 13

Weekly Clinical Correspondence Panui 13.5.22 1. National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) update a. Our latest monthly newsletter update, covering what is happening with the NCSP and the progress towards the HPV Primary Screening transition in July 2023, can be found here.

2. NZMA Board Recommends Liquidation – More information here 3. Interim Guidance on testing for possible COVID-19 reinfection within 90 days a. Please click here for interim guidance for healthcare providers on how to manage patients who present with COVID-19 symptoms, or a positive COVID-19 RAT test within 90 days of a prior probable COVID-19 infection. Further reinfection guidance, based on current evidence, is available here. b. For a recently recovered case that meets the criteria and to be legally defined as a reinfection, an amendment to the advice in the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Self-Isolation Requirements and Permitted Work) Order 2022 was required. c. This legal update is in progress and until this change is gazetted, legally a record of reinfection cannot be created by healthcare practitioners in the Covid Clinical Care Module (CCCM). Therefore, these guidance materials are being circulated in advance and contact will be made to advise when the CCCM will be able to go live with this change. d. In addition, the Primary Care Team have developed Primary Care specific operational guidance to support decision making – acknowledging the role clinical discretion plays in the decision-making process. Testing is funded in the same way as existing COVID-19 guidance.

4. COVID-19 Therapeutics ▪ The Ministry of Health has updated its guidance for health practitioners prescribing oral anti-virals Paxlovid and molnupiravir to treat COVID-19.

▪ Translations of the Paxlovid factsheet have been added to the Health Navigator website in Te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, Cook Islands Māori and Niuean.

COVID-19 Vaccinations i. The Ministry of Health has released new guidance for employers seeking reimbursement for employee influenza vaccinations. ii. A new video has been released with Nanogirl talking about COVID-19 vaccination to explain the science in a way easily understood by tamariki and parents.

5. COVID-19 Response i. The Ministry of Health has released interim clinical guidance for health professionals on testing for possible COVID-19 reinfection within 90 days and information for the public about catching COVID-19 again.

6. Draft National Infection Prevention and Control Strategy Consultation i. Please share these resources with respective organisations and colleagues and supply feedback as per below, with many thanks.

7. The Ministry of Health will be releasing a new feature to the National Immunisation Solution (NIS) which enables General Practices to receive notifications for flu vaccinations administered elsewhere to their enrolled patients. Attached is material to support general practice teams.

8. ATTACHED: New annual prescribing report available for primary care clinicians a. The 2022 EPiC Annual Prescribing report is now available online and highlights some real wins in primary care prescribing, as well as signalling some areas for improvement. The free report, presented as an interactive dashboard, helps primary

care clinicians quickly focus on key problems of national prescribing practice such as polypharmacy and medicine underutilisation in different populations. As well as viewing the national data, prescribers can view their own data on their dispensed (funded) prescriptions as well as prescriptions dispensed to all patients enrolled in their primary practice. b. Please feel free to publish links to the EPiC Annual Prescribing report and/or this press release and imagery in your internal communications.

9. VACANCY: Regional NBSP leadership role 2/10 a. Do you know a GP or nurse who would be interested in a regional NBSP leadership role from July 2022? The NBSP regional centres as such are being dis-established but there is a 2/10 funding allocation for a primary care regional lead. This position has not really been filled for the Central region in any sustained way. It would ideally be added to someone who already does liaison or similar work but could suit a GP or nurse working in a general practice. Contact doctorjohnmcmenamin@gmail.com for more details.

10. Waikato DHB are looking at organising direct access for tonsillectomy without an FSA. Is this being done in any other DHB, we would appreciate your learnings and experience so that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Please contact Mark Taylor Mark.Taylor@waikatodhb.health.nz if you are able to help.