What’s in this issue?
PRIMARY CARE CLINICAL DIGEST
MAY 31 2024
Immunisation Pānui May 27 2024
Update on COVID-19 services for primary care and pharmacy sector representatives May 31 2024
Ruruku – latest news and updates from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora May 30 2024
National Cervical Screening Programme information update
Hauora Taiwhenua Newsletter May 2024
Update on supply of morphine oral liquid and oxycodone oral liquid
Goodfellow Unit upcoming webinars and short course
National Palliative Care Steering Group update May 2024
PR releases from GPNZ
Pharmac May 2024 tender notification
Updates for Primary Care Prescribers and supply issues
Top Weekend Viewing
Immunisation Pānui
May 27 2024
View online
Update on COVID-19 services for primary care and pharmacy sector representatives
May 31 2024
See the attached link to access the latest update on immunisation.
This communication has been sent by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora to relevant Primary Care (general practice and urgent care) and Pharmacy providers, to notify them of the following: The funding model for COVID-19 service provision is changing. Health NZ will continue to transition its health response to COVID-19 so it is managed in a similar way to other communicable diseases.
Agreements held with Primary Care providers for the provision of free COVID-19 clinical assessment consultations for the public will end on 30 June 2024.
COVID-19 antiviral medicines remain free and available for people with a higher risk of severe illness from COVID19. See here for eligibility criteria.
The service delivery model for the supply and dispensing of antivirals by community pharmacies from 1 July 2024 has not been confirmed. We will engage with key community pharmacy sector representatives in early June to discuss these changes.
Free COVID-19 vaccinations including funded administration of the COVID-19 vaccine will remain available to those who meet Pharmac’s eligibility criteria from 1 July 2024
Ruruku – latest news and updates from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora May 30 2024 View online
National Cervical Screening Programme information update
Information attached
Hauora Taiwhenua Newsletter May 2024
Newsletter attached
Update on supply of morphine oral liquid and oxycodone oral liquid
Morphine oral liquid
Oxycodone controlled-release 20 mg tabs
until further notice. Vaccination service providers will be contacted in June to discuss the terms and conditions of their Service Agreements from 1 July 2024 onwards.
Free rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the Health NZ Central Supply will continue to be available for healthcare providers to access until 30 September 2024. Healthcare provider access to personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Health NZ Central Supply will end on 30 June 2024 and providers will need to purchase PPE products from the private market.
Free RATs will also remain available to the public via Health NZ’s Distribution Provider Channel until 30 September 2024.
This means from 1 July 2024:
Primary Care providers (general practice and urgent care) will no longer be able to claim for funded COVID-19 testing and antiviral consultations. Consultations for COVID-19 will be treated like other respiratory illnesses and attract co-payments as for other similar conditions. Existing community funding arrangements cease on 30 June 2024, but consideration is currently being given to how community pharmacies can be supported to continue supplying COVID-19 antivirals from 1 July 2024.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora will continue to engage with you, and other key representatives from the sector regarding these changes, and how they can best support the sector through this transition.
Updates from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora can be viewed in the attached link.
See the attached email with information on the PHO cervical screening status report update for 70-74-year olds.
The latest newsletter from Hauora Twaiwhenua is attached for your information.
Please see the attached links for more information on the supply of morphine oral liquid and oxycodone oral liquid. Any questions, please email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz or call 0800 660 050.
Goodfellow Unit upcoming webinars and short course
National Palliative Care Steering Group update May 2024
Webinars:
MSK pain: Expert non-pharmacological management tips
– June 4 Register here
T2D: Why not just eat nutrient-dense food? – July 16 Register here
Short course:
Improving Outcomes for Pacific Patients: Soālaupule View course here
The National Palliative Care Steering Group are excited to announce the members of the Models of Care – Adult Working Group:
Anna Blackwell
Connie Watts Williams
Evelyn Gerrish
Hinetewai
Kate Grundy
Louisa Ingham
Salina Iupati
Sue Tutty
The purpose of the Working Group is to review how adult palliative care services and systems work together in Aotearoa; they will start meeting in early June.
For more information about the national work programme see: Palliative care – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
PR releases from GPNZ
Pharmac May 2024 tender notification
View online
Update for Primary Care
Prescribers
View online
Updates on supply issues
View online
Top Weekend Viewing
Please see the links to GPNZ PR releases on Budget 24 and appointment of Dr Lester Levy to as Chair of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
To view the Pharmac website for the May 2024 Tender notification, click on the attached link.
See attached links to view Pharmac updates as at May 31 2024.
This week we are covering three current events – celebrating Samoan language week with a well-loved Samoan comedy, King’s birthday and the arrival of Winter on June 1 with these three movies. Try to watch at least one of them while you are relaxing this long weekend! Sione’s Wedding (TVNZ+) - Four friends are banned from their best friend's wedding in this comedy. Their only ticket in is to find girlfriends before the event, but that turns out to be a harder task than they imagined. See trailer
The King’s Speech (TVNZ+) - King George VI tries to overcome his stammering problem with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue and makes himself worthy enough to lead his country through World War II. See trailer Winter Tale (Apple TV) - Peter, a thief raised by a supernatural demon, goes to Beverly Penn's mansion in an attempt to rob it. Instead, he falls in love with Beverly, who is about to die of poison. See trailer