17 April 2020Some highlights: President's blog | NZSA membership renewals | COVID-19 key info | COVID-19 Critical Care Collaborative | ANZCA PPE Statement | Ethical use of PPE | ICU training for pandemic | webAIRS COVID-19 alerts | WFSA news | Special COVID-19 Research Review President's message"We have all been in this together," writes NZSA President Dr Kathryn Hagen, describing the response of front line health workers and our wider population to COVID-19. She says we can be proud of the end result for New Zealand, and acknowledges the huge effort and time it has taken, from acquiring PPE to implementing the policies, plans, and training required. The emotional toll for many has also been significant. Read Kathryn's blog here. As always, comments are welcome president@anaesthesia.nz NZSA office during lockdownThe NZSA Executive and staff are working remotely and are in contact on a daily basis to progress work on COVID-19, as well as NZSA projects and business as usual activities. The office number (04) 494 0124 has been redirected to CEO Renu Borst, however cannot be transferred to other parties. To contact staff directly:
NZSA membership renewalsReminder letters for NZSA membership renewals have been sent to members who have not yet paid. At a time of such uncertainty due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of some of our events, the NZSA is vulnerable like all small business. Our mandate is to support you and we ask that you support your organisation and staff. To renew your membership, please contact Lynne Wood membership@anaesthesia.nz. We look forward to your ongoing engagement and support. COVID-19 key informationThe Ministry of Health website is a reliable, up-to-date source of information with specific information for health professionals. The government’s response across all sectors, and tips for staying healthy are on the Government COVID-19 website. The NZSA website has a COVID-19 section, which is a repository of information including international guidelines, articles, studies and webinars; including those from the Association of Anaesthetists (formerly AAGBI). We are also regularly updating our news page. The ANZCA website has clinical resources, professional advice and information specifically for trainees. COVID-19 Critical Care CollaborativeThe NZSA is a member of a newly established alliance "the COVID-19 Critical Care Collaborative" to advance COVID-19 critical care through advocacy and guidance on models of care. The Collaborative has just released a statement Managing the senior medical workforce in intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The other member organisations are: ANZCA, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, the College of Intensive Care of Australia and New Zealand, and the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine. ANZCA Statement on PPELast week ANZCA released its revised Statement on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. ANZCA President Dr Rod Mitchell said it is "intended to provide a single bi-national standard, informed by high level expert advice, to facilitate a safe, consistent and standardised approach to the use of PPE across both countries. It has been developed with the clear understanding that there will be situations where it will require modification to meet local epidemiological and resource circumstances. Such modifications should, as far as is reasonably possible, be guided by informed expert opinion." PPE webinar from AustraliaThe Australian Department of Health delivered a webinar to update anaesthetists on personal protective equipment (PPE) on 6 April, which can be viewed here. Dr Nick Coatsworth, Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, is responsible for issues relating to PPE in Australia and led the discussion. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists, the NZSA, the College of Intensive Care Medicine and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society also participated in this webinar. Ethical use of PPEWe would like to draw members attention to an excellent resource on the ethical use of PPE in a pandemic, which has been developed by NZSA member Dr Alan Goodey. This presentation is available on You Tube here and has already been shared via our social media channels. Support for private practiceThe COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme helps businesses and affected workers in the short-term, as they adjust to the initial impact of COVID-19. We have been contacted by some private practice anaesthetists who have, or will be applying for this scheme, whether as individuals who are self-employed or as part of a private practice group. To access the government's financial assistance to pay practice employees, the group should go to their practice accountants, who can provide information to show reduced income. The NZSA is able to write you a letter of support if required. Find out more about the Government's scheme here Redeployment surveyOver a fortnight ago we emailed consultant members to ask if they could possibly assist ICU/anaesthetic staff redistribution in the event that a small centre is overwhelmed by COVID-19. Members who advised they were able to be redeployed have had their details forwarded to the Ministry of Health. Thank you to all who responded to this survey. Letter from NZ Private Surgical Hospitals AssociationThe NZSA wrote to the New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association (NZPSHA) to find out about their preparedness for COVID-19 and to offer our assistance. The NZPSHA thanked us for our offer and outlined their structures and plans to respond to COVID-19. Read the NZPSHA letter here. Updates on eventsSome updates on the cancellation and/or postponement of events due to COVID-19 are listed below. We recommend you visit the NZSA events page for the latest updates. Please note that the status of some events are not yet clear, however we will update details when available.
webAIRS COVID-19 ANA AlertsWebAIRS has a new introductory page for COVID-19 related incidents. Whilst it would have been possible to report incidents relating to these cases using the standard webAIRS application, the new introduction includes questions directly related to COVID-19. After the initial page, the new section links seamlessly into the remaining pages to enter the standard webAIRS data related to adverse events. There is also a demo page to preview the application without entering any data. We encourage anaesthetists to report COVID-19 patient management issues and will provide regular notifications of problems and possible solutions. Anaesthetic Notices for Anaesthetists (ANA) Alerts have recently been added to the webAIRS website. Two incidents reported to webAIRS last week summarise issues relating to personal protective equipment (PPE). These incidents are very pertinent to the current COVID-19 pandemic climate and highlight the importance of providing the opportunity for anaesthetists to reflect and report this information to the webAIRS anaesthetic incident reporting system. To view these reports, please login to the webAIRS website and select the ANA - Alerts menu option. Did you know that reporting an incident qualifies for CPD points? Visit the webAIRS website to register or email anztadc@anzca.edu.au SAS consensus statementThe NZSA, along with other organisations such as ASA Australia, endorsed the COVID-19 airway management and intubation consensus statement. The statement and other resources can be accessed here. PANNZ meeting summaryThe Paediatric Anaesthesia Network for New Zealand (PANNZ) met under urgency on 2 April to discuss concerns regarding the response to COVID-19 for children. All DHBs have developed perioperative plans and instituted intubation and extubation guidelines for their hospitals broadly based on Starship Hospital guidance. There remains significant variation across the country as to what is the required PPE for anaesthesia interventions and variation in guidance from respective infectious diseases specialists. As was described at our meeting so eloquently, ID specialists can look at COVID-19 from a telescope, and anaesthetists can taste it with their tongues, which clearly crafts a different perspective on things. Stocks of PPE was discussed but inventories were not known. Staffing and resourcing in paediatric anaesthesia was also discussed. NZSA will maintain a central repository of paediatric anaesthesia documents and protocols from PANNZ representatives. ICU training for pandemicA free online resource www.QuickICUTraining.com has been designed to support non-intensive care clinicians (doctors, nurses, and others) who may need to work in critical care units during the pandemic. Developed by the University of Toronto, it is a study guide and quick reference tool for those upskilling, renewing, or reviewing their critical care capabilities in response to COVID-19. It is intended to supplement simulation and/or on-the-job learning and more formal training that your region may be using. In the mediaThe NZSA is sharing key media articles via our social media channels Twitter and Facebook regularly. Some media coverage highlighted below: Recertification update from MCNZDue to the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties doctors are likely to have accessing learning and development to meet recertification requirements, the Medical Council of New Zealand has waived recertification requirements for this year. ACC and COVID-19If you need to talk to ACC about how COVID-19 or the Health Ministry’s guidelines affect your service delivery, talk to the person or organisation who holds the contract with ACC. You can also contact your Engagement and Performance Manager, or providerbusinesscontinuity@acc.co.nz. The ACC website has regular updates related to COVID-19 and a comprehensive Q & A for providers. COVID-19 message from WFSAAs a member of the World Federation of Anesthesiologists (WFSA), the NZSA was sent an update on how COVID-19 is impacting the organisation. Below is an abridged version of their report.
Special COVID-19 Research ReviewThis special issue includes articles on: NZ's elimination approachCountries have chosen one of two main responses to COVID-19 - either mitigation or elimination. These responses are outlined in an article by Ian Powell, the former Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, who is now a health commentator. He strongly supports New Zealand's elimination approach and describes herd immunity, initially adopted by the UK, as "unethical and a dangerous experiment." Read here Anaesthesia Continuing EducationThe ACE website is a one-stop shop for anaesthesia events. Members convening conferences, workshops or meetings, which assist CPD requirements, are encouraged to add their event to the website. Advertising and quick links |