Additional guidance on the COVID-19 Protection Framework

Please see below a letter from Martin Chadwick detailing the impact of the COVID protection framework on Allied Health services.
Additional guidance for allied health services COVID19 Protection Framework FINAL.pdf

You may also find the following comments useful:

• The Covid-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework) Order 2021 is found here. 
• If your health service is totally privately funded you act as a close contact business under the traffic lights system. NZREPs have put together a great guidance document which you might find useful: hexercise.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Traffic-Light-2.03.pdf
• Clause 103 of the Health Order provides the exemption for health workers and health services. “Designated services” are those that get any public funding – health, ACC, corrections etc.
• Here is a link to a flowchart to help ascertain if your health service can lawfully require vaccination certificates as an entry requirement to your premises: Allied Health CPF Flow Chart FINAL.pdf
• If you are a regulated profession and/or receive government funding or subsidies for services that are provided then you need to look at Clause 103(2) which specifies use of QR codes and contact record systems/contact records.  
• Clause 31(1)  says “Person cannot be denied access to certain premises on vaccination grounds”. Clause 32 is about not denying people goods or services on vaccination grounds.  So that means regardless of any professions' Code of Ethics etc a health service cannot deny service on the basis of vaccination status. Most of the regulated professions have as a basic standard that the practitioners must uphold all current laws. This law takes precedence over your Code of Ethics. The only people who can be denied access to your health service are unvaccinated staff.
• Member organisations have received contradictory messages from the Ministry of Health regarding whether you can ask about somebody's vaccination status as part of your risk assessment and screening procedures. The AHANZ Executive Committee will continue to pursue this.

Answering questions about the COVID-19 vaccine

Here are a number of videos and other resources where experts answer questions about the vaccine. Your members and their clients may find some of these useful. 

This list was shared in the Ministry of Health's most recent vaccine update newsletter, along with links to many other useful resources. If you don't already receive this newsletter, you can sign up at www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/ministry-health-newsletters 

• Nigel Latta, Dr Maia Brewerton and Dr Helen Petousis-Harris recently answered vaccine questions in a Facebook live event with the support of a sign language interpreter (60 mins). 
• Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Dr Nikki Turner, Dr Siouxsie Wiles and Dr Vanisi Prescott recently answered vaccine questions in a Facebook live event. (57mins)
• Mihingarangi Forbes sat down with Dr Hinemoa Elder to discuss some key concerns and hesitancies (59 mins)  
• On Te Ao with Moana COVID-19 Vax Q&A (25 mins) Dr Anthony Jordan, Dr Papaarangi Reid, Dr Rawiri McKree-Jansen, Dr Maia Brewerton - specialists and activists in Māori public health, clinical immunology, allergies, immunopathology andmedicine take phone calls from the public about COVID-19 and the vaccine.
• Clinical psychologist Rachel Prebble talks about vaccine hesitancy (1 min) and has some ideas for starting a conversations (2 mins) with friends and whanau. 
• A fun and informative item on the Hahana Facebook page with answers to lots of vaccine questions: (11 mins)
• AUT’s Professor Steve Henry, a biological engineer currently working in the field of COVID-19 immunity, considers Should I get vaccinated? (39 mins)
• A rangatahi panel with Dr Jason Tuhoe, to kōrero about the vaccine from different perspectives (vaccinated, vaccine hesitant, wants to be vaccinated but whānau pressure not to): Waatea News on Te Puni Kokiri Facebook page (60 mins)
• Here’s a discussion between four health professionals where they share their thoughts, knowledge and experiences of the COVID vaccine in Straight Up with Dr. Lily Fraser - The Panel (3 mins)
• Learn about the COVID-19 pandemic, getting vaccinated, and what the future holds for Aotearoa New Zealand. Watch a series of seven NZ Vaccine Facts videos 
• Charitable trust The Workshop have developed a user friendly guide on ways to talk about COVID vaccination that will build trust and motivate vaccination. It is a great resource for anybody communicating with communities to support the vaccine rollout. Guide on how to build trust in COVID-19 vaccination — The Workshop  

Research into Allied Health leadership

Becky George would like to invite you to participate in her research on exploring how Allied Health Clinicians are enabled to step into Health Systems Leadership roles.

Advert.pdf
 
You are welcome to respond and contact her directly on nqq7212@autuni.ac.nz and she will be happy to supply further information before you make a decision about participating.

Webinar: Lessons on digital transformation

Health Informatics NZ are running a webinar next Wednesday, 8 December (12.30pm to 2pm) on ‘2021 Year in Review – lessons on digital transformation’.  Sector group leaders will reflect on innovation and transformation in the health sector in 2021 and key lessons learned. The roundtable discussion will focus on how these learnings can be applied to enable and embed change in the years ahead.
 
For further information and to register, please click on the link below:
hinz.org.nz/general/custom.asp?page=Webinar-08Dec2021

Best wishes,

Nikky Winchester
Executive Director, AHANZ
executivedirector@alliedhealth.org.nz