# 510
Friday 5 March 2010
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Flu Vaccinations for Children
- NZMA Board Meeting
- Recent NZMA Media Coverage
- Online Networking for Clinicians
- Reminder Notice for Board Elections
- NZMA President – Nominations Sought & more
NEWS
Flu Vaccinations for Children
NZMA Chair Dr Peter Foley was approached by the media in relation to a NZ Doctor online article that reported that thousands of children may miss out on free flu vaccines because they are registered at the wrong medical centre. Speaking on TV3 news last night, Dr Foley voiced NZMA concerns: “The Ministry has decided to target those that will be eligible by way of which practice they attend rather than by individual need.”
Only vaccinations at practices which have more than half of their pre-schoolers identified as at-risk will be funded. Others will pay the full $26. ‘At risk’ pre-schoolers are defined as those who are Maori, Pacific Islanders or from a low socio-economic background.
“If some of those children attend, as we know they do, practices which don’t fulfil the 50 percent criteria then it is a risk to the community,” said Dr Foley. “They will be more at risk of developing the flu like illness or the complications that flu like illness will bring to them.” Dr Foley said the Ministry is probably realising the problem that’s been created and is hopefully re-thinking the plan so that children in need won’t miss out.
He added that the NZMA understands the need for best use of resources and targeted funding but in this case the policy needs to be rectified.
To read or view the TV3 news story go to http://www.3news.co.nz/Ministry-Of-Health-under-fire-for-vaccine-discrimination-/tabid/309/articleID/144750/Default.aspx
NZMA Board Meeting
The NZMA had a meeting on Tuesday 2 March which included discussion on many issues facing the medical profession and our health sector. Among topics discussed were: the physician assistants trial which will take place in Counties Manukau (the NZMA has recently filed a submission on this issue), our position statements on alcohol and climate change which are in development, planning for the role of the doctor seminar which will be held later in the year, and doctors’ health issues including the development of new resources to assist doctors.
Recent NZMA Media Coverage
NZMA Chair Dr Peter Foley continues to have a very high profile in the media and is consistently asked to provide comment on a wide range of health topics. Recent topics covered include: NZMA concerns about the variable performance of DHBs, Pharmac-like model extension and the need to seek clincians’ views, the EOI process and integration of primary and secondary services and MOH website connecting clinicians (see more on this story below).
Online Networking for Clinicians
Doctors will soon have the ability to network with other clinicians online and attend web conferences through a Health Ministry website, which encourages information sharing of best practice to improve health care delivery. Doctors will be able to interact through public and private forums, set up online meeting rooms and take part in online learning programmes. NZMA Chair Dr Peter Foley, quoted in the Dominion Post, says the NZMA strongly supports initiatives that improve connectivity and information sharing between clinicians, but that it is important that any information shared be secure. The website, which will include a database of clinical research, will be launched with some content by the end of this May and will be completed by June 2012.
REMINDER Notice of Election – Call for Nominations
In accordance with the Constitutional Rules of the NZMA, nominations are invited for three positions on the NZMA Board. Nominees must be members of the NZMA, and nominations may be made by any financial member of the NZMA. All nominations must have the endorsement of the nominee. If more than three nominations are received, a postal ballot of all financial members of the NZMA will be held. Nominations close at 4pm, 12 March 2010. A copy of the nomination form can be found on our website at www.nzma.org.nz/news and in the February issue of Medspeak. If you have any queries about the elections please email nzma@nzma.org.nz
NZMA President – Nominations Sought
Nominations from NZMA members are sought for the position of NZMA President. This is a one-year honorary position. If you would like to make a nomination, with the agreement of the person being nominated, please email nzma@nzma.org.nz by 5 April. The NZMA Board selects the President.
NZMA Auckland Council Event
The NZMA’s Auckland Council event titled Better, Sooner, More Convenient in Waitemata in association with Harbour Health PHO was held on Monday 1 March. Guest speakers were: Dr Peter Foley, NZMA Chair, Dr Lannes Johnson, Clinical Director Harbour Health, Dr Johan Rosman CMO for Waitemata DHB, and Mr Alan Greenslade, CEO of PHONZ. The event presented doctors with the opportunity to meet with other colleagues and to hear about innovations in health. More events will be organised throughout the year.
American Express Card Members’ Benefit
American Express has entered into a strategic partnership with Air New Zealand. From 1 March, New Zealand American Express Card members are able to transfer Membership Rewards Points to Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars to fly around the world and domestically.
A snapshot of the offer:
- Just 175 Membership Rewards points = 1 Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollar, which can be used on any available seat on all Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flights;
- If you are not already a member of Air New Zealand Airpoints, you can sign up free of charge before 30 April 2010;
- If you transfer your MR points to Airpoints Dollars before 30 April 2010, you will earn 25% bonus Airpoints Dollars on the points transferred;
- Points can be used for any Air New Zealand flight including sales and promotional fares as well as upgrades.
NZMA ACTIVITIES
· The NZMA Doctors-in-Training Council held its first meeting of 2010 on Saturday 27 February. Matters discussed included the ACE DHB proposal for common selection criteria for House Officers, the Auckland physician assistant trial, extended absences from medical practice (and how to ensure that doctors who do this can later return to practice), workforce, a proposed DITC resource on bullying and harassment and the proposed Role of Doctor seminar.
· NZMA CEO Cameron McIver, Communications Manager Daphne Atkinson and Operations Manager Anna Phipps interviewed candidates for the newly created position of Communications and Marketing Assistant on Monday. We are in the process of finalising employment details for the chosen candidate.
· Mr McIver met with Angela Yeoman, a contractor to the Ministry of Health on workforce issues.
New Zealand Medical Journal – Latest Issue Out Now
The latest NZMJ will be online later this afternoon. Articles include:
- Implication of using estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in a multi ethnic population of diabetes patients in general practice
- Ethnic disparities in causes of death among diabetes patients in the Waikato region of New Zealand
- Exploring physical and psychological wellbeing among adults with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand: identifying a need to improve the experiences of Pacific peoples
- Standardisation of reporting haemoglobin A1c: adoption of The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) position statement
- How well does routine hospitalisation data capture information on comorbidity in New Zealand?
- A population-based approach to the estimation of diabetes prevalence and health resource utilisation
Go to: www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
The Minister of Health has requested nominations and/or applications for the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT). Vacancies for the medical profession are: two general practitioners, one obstetrician/gynaecologist and one psychiatrist.
Attached is the candidate information document for the Tribunal which outlines the terms and conditions of appointment. If you would like to nominate any suitable candidates for this vacancy or apply yourself, please forward your nomination to Veronica Lovell veronica_lovell@moh.govt.nz by 19 March 2010 along with a copy of their/your current curriculum vitae and completed application form. Nominees may complete the on-line application form (and attach their CV), which can be found at:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/apps/statcommittees.nsf/application?open
Any queries please call Veronica Lovell on (04) 470 0616.
EVENTS
Countdown to NZRGPN Conference
CHRISTCHURCH 11-14 March
This year’s programme features workshops and sessions as diverse as Wilderness Medicine and Acupuncture in pain control to Fracture management and Dealing with legal issues in twenty-ten. With an emphasis on the inventiveness and resilience of rural general practice, this year’s theme is, aptly, “Rural Health – No. 8 Wired.”
Conference 2010 has been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and has been provisionally approved for up to 16 hours (=16 credits) CME for General Practice Education Programme Stage 2 (formerly AVE) and Maintenance of Professional Standards (MOPS) purposes.
The conference runs from March 11-14 at the Christchurch Convention Centre. If you have any questions or queries please call Network communications manager Rob Olsen on 04 495 5887, 021 82 2468 or email rob@rgpn.org.nz Or visit www.rgpn.org.nz to register.
HDC Medical-Legal Seminar
WELLINGTON 24 March
The Health and Disability Commissioner’s office invites you to a seminar Reflections on a Decade of Change – 24 March 2010 in Wellington, 8.30am-4.30pm – to hear from some of New Zealand’s medico-legal experts reflecting on health law in the last decade. The conference has been accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and is suitable for CPD purposes. Speakers will include Otago University Professor Peter Skegg, Auckland University Associate Professor Joanna Manning, Auckland University Professor Alan Merry, Counties Manukau Quality Director Dr Mary Seddon, Chapman Tripp partner Adam Ross and Commissioner Ron Paterson. Please email Julia Phillips if you would like to attend or have any queries: jphillips@hdc.org.nz
Evolving Communities Beyond Services, Building Bridges National Conference for Community Mental Health and Addictions
WELLLINGTON 14-16 APRIL
Conference summary: Transcending barriers, cultures and differences in our approach to community mental health and addiction services. Dates & Venue: 14 -16 April 2010 at the Wellington Convention Centre, Wellington. For more information, go to www.buildingbridges.co.nz
MEMBER BENEFIT
Noel Leeming – Exclusive Prices to NZMA Members
Noel Leeming is offering NZMA members exclusive prices on everything in Noel Leeming and Bond+Bond stores. Members will never have to pay retail prices again. To access the special prices, just show your NZMA membership card at point of sale. Trade members or bulk purchases – will receive further discount through Noel Leeming account manager. For more information please contact Debbie Papera debbie@nzma.org.nz or call 04 472 4741.
MEMBER ADVISORY
GP Individual Employment Agreement – New Resource
The NZMA has developed a sample Individual Employment Agreement for General Practitioners. The sample employment agreement is designed specifically for General Practitioners employed as employees on a permanent basis. The agreement complies with all the requirements of the Employment Relations Act 2000. A Locum contract and individual employment agreement are also available. Download this from our website at http://www.nzma.org.nz/membersonly/advisory-service.html or email Debbie Papera debbie@nzma.org.nz for a copy.
Vital Signs is a weekly email bulletin with news and information about the NZMA. It aims to keep members in touch with the NZMA’s work, and complement the NZMA newsletter Medspeak and website. If you do not wish to receive Vital Signs, please reply with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
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