National Immunisation Programme hui, 6 October
The following message is from Te Whatu Ora:
We would like to invite you to the upcoming Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand’s National Immunisation Programme hui, which is being held from 12 noon – 1.00pm, Thursday 6 October 2022.
This lunchtime hui is designed to keep our vaccination and immunisation teams up to date with plans and activities undertaken by the National Immunisation Programme. The hui will include the following presentations:
- Rachel Mackay: Welcome and overall programme updates
- Dr Marion Leighton: Clinical updates
- Bex Bruno: Vaccine specific operational updates
- Patricia Joseph: Equity programme updates
- Loren Shand: Aotearoa Immunisation Register
We’ll also provide workforce and promotional campaign updates.
Don’t forget to add the meeting invite details provided below into your calendar, and please also feel free to forward this invitation on to any health sector colleagues who may wish to attend.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 416 125 319 590
Passcode: o4xk4C
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COVID-19 Care in the Community
The following message is from the Ministry of Health:
- COVID-19 testing guidance for general practice has been updated, as has the COVID-19 Testing Plan for Aotearoa/New Zealand. Clinical and operation guidance on testing for possible COVID-19 reinfection has been amended and simplified, and is now also included in the COVID-19 Testing Guidance.
- The Ministry of Social Welfare has reduced its hours for its COVID Welfare Response line, 0800 512 337, and regional triage teams. They will be available Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, and Saturday 8am-1pm, and will no longer operate on Sundays or public holidays. The escalation process in place that health practitioners can use if they’re particularly concerned about someone needing urgent support out of hours will continue to be available.
- Clinical guidelines for people with long COVID were published on 15 September: health.govt.nz/publication/clinical-rehabilitation-guideline-people-long-covid-aotearoa-new-zealand The information will be shared on the Awhina app, Health pathways and Health navigator. As the science and literature continues to evolve our understanding on long COVID conditions, feedback is welcomed and updates to the information contained in the guidelines. In section 4, there is a template of a from for feedback on the first iteration. You are encouraged to provide feedback by the middle to end of October.
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Revocation of Health and Disability Vaccination Mandate
The following message is from Te Whetu Ora:
As announced by the Government on Monday 12 September, the COVID-19 protection framework has been ‘retired’. Of relevance to you is the revocation of the vaccination mandate for the health and disability sector workers (which includes workers in aged care and residential) – which took effect on 26 September.
The mandate was introduced to protect workers in high-risk settings from COVID-19 and help prevent transmission between workers and vulnerable people. The mandate is no longer needed now the affected workforce has a very high vaccination rate (estimated to be greater than 95 percent), and vaccination has a reduced overall efficacy against Omicron transmission.
The revocation of the order applies to the remaining health and disability workers in the following settings:
- Health practitioners dealing with patients in person, such as doctors, nurses and dentists
- Workers in medical centres/GP practices, pharmacies (such as receptionists or assistants)
- Workers employed or engaged by certified providers – which includes hospitals, rest homes, or residential disability care facilities
- Care and support workers - workers employed or engaged to provide care and support services within a home or place of residence.
All exemptions previously granted have expired, and no more exemption applications will be accepted.
Some businesses and organisations may choose to continue COVID-19 vaccination requirements through employment contracts - for example, the Te Whatu Ora active vaccination policies across each of the districts and entities will remain in place until a national policy has been agreed. Guidance on employment law, health and safety law and contractual requirements can be found at:
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Updates from Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora
Workforce Taskforce
The Workforce Taskforce, which is responsible for working on initiatives to improve and unify overseas recruitment, at the same time as creating more training and intern opportunities, held a wānanga on last month.
In addition to Taskforce members, wānanga attendees included representatives of a range of professional groups, Manatū Hauora and the Tertiary Education Commission. Discussion focused on the future, identification of barriers to the future vision and started to develop criteria to prioritise future workforce initiatives.
Workforce Initiatives
A range of workforce initiatives have been designed to get us moving more quickly in the right direction. They are also a good example of what can be achieved now that we are one unified health delivery service.
Te Whatu Ora is working in partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora and Manatū Hauora on a number of initiatives, including building an international recruitment service within Te Whatu Ora and supporting registration for internationally qualified health professionals: read more on the Te Whatu Ora Change Hub.
Code of Expectations launch
The ‘Code of expectations for health entities’ engagement with consumers and whānau’ will ensure New Zealanders have a say in how health services are run. It signals a commitment for the new health system to strengthen the voice of consumers, whānau and communities. This initiative is part of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and requires health entities to report annually on how the code is being followed.
This code will not replace the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (Code of Rights).
It will take time to implement this new code of practice. The Consumer and Whānau Voice Team will work alongside the Health Quality & Safety Commission and other entities to support health entities through this process.
For further questions or support, please contact: consumers@hqsc.govt.nz
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Update from Kia Ora Hauora
The following message comes from Cazna Luke, National Coordination Centre Programme Manager:
The weeks have passed quickly since July 1 when the transition to Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) and Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) got underway. I am excited and full of hope about the significant transformation to the sector that is designed to be a more unified, smarter equity-led system and I’m thrilled to see that workforce development is a key priority. Change can create uncertainty so if you are interested in being kept informed about the changes you can follow this link to the virtual hui updates: Stakeholder Hui – Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand.
Behind the scenes we are working on the KOH Connect job portal. More than 200 tauira have either completed registration or are in the process of completing their registration. We have been busy in the backroom streamlining processes so we can better support tauira through registration and have also been running 1:1 HR sessions with tauira to ensure you are making the most of the opportunities KOH Connect provides to help you find employment so if you are looking for a job we can help: https://kohconnect.co.nz/
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Cyber security for primary and secondary care
Sandra Kirby, AHANZ Co-Chair, met with Nancy Taneja, the Chief Information Security Officer for Primary & Community Care, last week. The cyber security project for primary and community care is continuing to progress.
Nancy is about to release a cybersecurity maturity assessment to understand the gaps and opportunities for improving cybersecurity. Allied Health providers are important kaimahi of the primary and community care ropu and must participate in having their say about current state and challenges around cybersecurity so that we can build a roadmap that addresses those gaps. The team in charge need enough input to represent the cybersecurity maturity and needs of Allied Health providers. Like all programmes, this has some time constraints to build a program for next financial year. Assessments will go live from 17 October.
Letters about the programme have gone out to providers this week - hopefully, many of you will have received them.
AHANZ has been asked to encourage you to promote the assessment to private practice owners working in the primary/community care setting.
The assessments are simple in language and likely to take around an hour; and may require information from the practice's IT provider. It is designed to identify the needs and gaps in the sector so Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora can develop programmes that support primary health providers. A copy of the letter is attached, with more information.
Letter_to_primary_care_senior_stakeholders_re_cyber_security.pdf
Nancy will be running online webinar sessions to support providers with information on the programme. The first of these are on 18 and 20 October at 5-6pm. There will be the same content in both. We will circulate further information as soon as we receive it. In the meantime, if you have any specific questions or ideas about the assessment, please contact Nancy Taneja on nancy.taneja@tewhatuora.govt.nz
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Nga Pou Mana Hui-Ā-Tau, 18-20 October
Commences: 10am Tuesday 18 October
Finishes: 12 midday Thursday 20 October
Venue: Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, 139 Carrington Road, Mount Albert, Auckland 1025
Cost: $60 per person, including catering and marae accomodation
AGM: 4.30pm Wednesday 19 October
Scholarship Awards Ceremony & Hākari: 6.30pm Wednesday 19 October
Registrations open on Thursday 22 September. We have an exciting line up with more details coming very soon. For more information and to register, please visit: ngapoumana.org.nz/events/hui-a-tau-2022/
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Nga Pou Mana wananga
1. Mahi A Atua
Tuesday 4 October at 10am and 3pm with Dr Diana & Papa Mark Kopua
ngapoumana.org.nz/events/mahi-a-atua/
2. Oranga Hinengaro
Friday 14 October at 10am and 7pm with Te Waitere Paahi
ngapoumana.org.nz/events/oranga-hinengaro/
Both events are taking place on Zoom. There is no cost, but you must register in advance via the links above. They are open to tangata whenua only.
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Notices from the Executive Committee
We have been waiting for the review of the Cost of Treatment Regulations since March last year. It was put on the MBIE website last week, with no fanfare:
mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/consultation-on-acc-regulated-payments-for-treatment-2022/
This consultation is now open and closes on 18 October. It includes a proposed 9.36% increase in the treatment rates for some Allied Health providers and 0% for others, such as audiologists. The Executive Committee are considering putting in a submission on behalf of AHANZ, but individual member organisations are encouraged to also put their own submissions in.
Best wishes,
Nikky Winchester
Executive Director, AHANZ
executivedirector@alliedhealth.org.nz
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