President's blog

NZSA President Dr David Kibblewhite writes about welfare and wellbeing in his latest blog. He says that while we can take many psychological and emotional stresses on the chin, this resilience factor is variable and vulnerable. He believes the NZSA can help to support the welfare of its members by fostering collegiality and a sense of community, while also providing members with information, such as resources from the Anaesthetists Welfare Special Interest Group that provide guidance on prevention, and early recognition. Read David's blog here

NZSA AGM

The NZSA is holding its Annual General Meeting at the Annual Queenstown Update in Anaesthesia (AQUA), on Thursday 18 August 2016 at 5.15pm at the Millennium Hotel. In accordance with the Society's constitution, nominations are invited for the roles of Vice President and Secretary, which will be confirmed at the AGM. Nomination forms must be in by close of business on 12 August 2016.  If members are unable to attend we would appreciate you completing a proxy form and emailing it to nzsa@anaesthesia.nz.

Meetings

ACC
Dr Mark Featherston and Dr Kaye Ottaway of the NZSA Private Practice Commitee, along with NZSA CEO Renu Borst, met with ACC managers on Monday 25 July for our regular quarterly meeting.  

Key points: 

- Kaye provided some feedback on the clinical services guidelines which has led to further review of the document before it is released. 

- There was discussion about ACC’s elective services review. Mark will be working with ACC to add some example scenarios to assist as a short-term solution while ACC works on the longer term review.

- ACC and NZSA will meet with the top tier managers in September.  Kaye will provide an ACC update to members on Saturday 30 July at the NZSA Forum.

- ACC have always used EOS as their IT provider and as a result of the review they have found that this system will probably be able to fulfil their future requirements. They are looking at providing better client and provider access to data. There is a possibility that data such as an Anaesthetic assessment could be entered by the client and be able to be assessed by Anaesthesia providers. This is a work in progress as they look at the system's capabilities.

- Following their extensive review and consultation processes over the last three years they have concluded that many of their services work effectively.

There was a discussion on the status of the Elective Services Contract, the Clinical Services Contract, the Clinical Services Contract guidelines and the Pain Management Contract. Geraint Emrys, Corporate Medical Advisor at ACC, provided an overview of the ACC's transformation programme.  He also gave an update on the Elective Services Pathway project.

New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians' Society
David Kibblewhite, Kathryn Hagen, Renu Borst and Daphne Atkinson from NZSA met with Angela Dewhirst and Nicola Guerin-Smith from NZATS on Tuesday 26 July to discuss the Registered Nurse to the Anaesthetist  pathway, the Anaesthetic Technician scope of practice and our ongoing working relationship.  It was a very positive meeting and both parties left the meeting energised with some good outcomes and tasks to follow. NZSA will now be meeting regularly with NZATS on a more formal basis to discuss topical issues and foster pathways that strengthen our working relationship as we continue to support the Technician Society. NZSA President David Kibblewhite says that this is a pivotal time for anaesthetic technicians. "The playing field is always changing and our aim is to improve both the professional development of the techs and the service that they are able to offer us as anaesthetists, members of a perioperative team and as potential patients." 

BWT Ritchie Scholarship

The BWT Ritchie Scholarship provides financial assistance to New Zealand-based anaesthesia trainees who have passed the final examination for fellowship of ANZCA and are eligible to proceed to training year 5, to gain overseas experience and bring it back to New Zealand. It is also open to those who wish to undertake a further year of study outside New Zealand in the year following completion of their ANZCA fellowship (FANZCA); and to anaesthetists with FANZCA who are also training in pain medicine or intensive care medicine and who have reached a similar stage for those fellowships. Applicants must be nominated and supported by their training departments. The scholarship fund available for disbursement is up to $15,000 per year.

Applications close 31 October 2016. To find out more about the scholarship and how to apply, please go to the BWT Ritchie page of the NZAEC website.

In the Media

UK surgeons not operating on most critically ill
Does the publication of surgeon specific mortality data, as occurs in the UK, lead to a risk averse culture? In a UK survey 87% of surgeons said it did and a new UK study reports that patients are dying because heart surgeons won't operate on critically ill people as they are too worried about the effect it will have on their mortality ratings. NZ is debating the issue of publishing individual surgeon data at present and the NZSA has previously written a submission on the topic. The UK's The Telegraph reports on the UK study and survey.

Nitrous oxide error leads to baby's death
A baby boy died, and another suffered brain damage, after an oxygen outlet in a Sydney hospital mistakenly treated the infants with nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. Bankstown-Lidcome Hospital is conducting a full inquiry and cooperating with a NSW Government investigation. Read more on STUFF

NZSA Forum

Thank you to all our members who have registered to attend tomorrow's forum ‘'Behind the Scenes: A Forum Covering National Issues That Impact On Your Practice" (9.00am-1.00pm, at the University of Auckland).

We look forward to seeing you and hearing about the issues you would like us to be more engaged in. We will provide an update of the forum in the next issue of the E-Zine, providing an overview of speaker topics including health and safety, the Commerce Act, ACC and e-prescribing.

NZ Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship

Notice from the New Zealand Anaesthesia Education Committee (NZAEC)

Nominations for the 2017 New Zealand Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship close on 30 September 2016.

The Lectureship was established in 2008 by NZAEC to promote the sharing of knowledge and experience through outstanding presentations amongst anaesthetic departments and practices.

Heads of departments and practices are invited to nominate a member of their staff who has given an outstanding presentation at a CME session.  The 2017 New Zealand Anaesthesia Visiting Lecturer should be an anaesthetist who will give a stimulating, informative and well delivered presentation to their colleagues and be willing to travel to two other centres in New Zealand during 2017 to give their lectures.

Travelling costs associated with the delivery of the lectures will be paid for by NZAEC.

More information about the Visiting Lectureship programme including a downloadable nomination form or expression of interest form for regional centres interested in hosting a NZA visiting lecturer in 2017 can be found on the NZAEC website.  

NZSA Branding and Strategy

The NZSA is focused on increasing its visibility, profile and influence to better represent the interests of our members and the safety of patients. To do this we need a growing and engaged membership. As part of our work to achieve these goals we are evaluating our brand alignment to our strategy. Does our brand effectively communicate what we stand for as a society? As a profession/specialty? Does it enhance or hinder our digital profile? How are we perceived by external stakeholders that we work closely with such as ANZCA and the NZ Medical Association? We are evaluating our brand as part of a wider transformation for the Society as it looks to grow and retain membership, and be a more influential advocate in the health sector. We have contracted a company to do a brand audit, as well as interview members, non-members and external stakeholders to find out how our brand is performing and whether it supports our goals. Your NZSA Executive have been fully engaged in this process, which included a one-day workshop to look at the attributes we would like our brand to convey about our Society and specialty. We will keep members regularly updated about this project through our E-zine and other communications.

Increasing NZ's organ donation rates

The NZSA has expressed its strong support for a national strategy to increase New Zealand's deceased organ donation rates. We provided feedback in our submission to the Ministry of Health in response to their consultation document and said a multifaceted approach was needed, including a national coordinating body with a mandate to increase rates, a strong focus on raising public awareness through the media, and putting structures in place through the driver licensing system to help facilitate conversations between individuals and their families. We also said that complexities around cultural considerations needed to be addressed. The NZSA's submission covers the above issues and other aspects of increasing organ donation rates.

Events on NZSA website

The NZSA website lists New Zealand and overseas events. Below is a selection of events:

Annual Queenstown Update in Anaesthesia
The Annual Queenstown Update in Anaesthesia (AQUA) is taking place 18-20 August at the Millennium Hotel. Hear the latest about anaesthetic practice, meet up with colleagues and enjoy all that Queenstown has to offer, from skiing to iconic views. Associate Professor Bernhard Riedel, from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, is the international speaker.  His research includes the impact of anaesthesia on long-term outcomes following cancer surgery, preoperative risk stratification and preoperative optimisation through prehabilitation. The scientific programme will feature a broad range of clinically focused updates, and there will be a conference dinner and AQUA BBQ, followed by the Bledisloe rugby. This year AQUA is also running an Anaphylaxis Emergency Response Workshop and a NZSA medicolegal focused forum on Saturday morning, which will be a summary of the NZSA 30 July Auckland forum.

Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Conference (PRIDoC) - Talking about Transformation
This conference (27 Nov-1 Dec) in Auckland provides a space for indigenous doctors, medical students, health professionals, health researchers and medical educators from around the Pacific to discuss ideas, action and evidence that is transforming indigenous health.

You are invited to participate in a conversation, celebration, discussion and debate about transforming medical education, the medical workforce, and healthcare design and delivery to transform indigenous health outcomes.

Following the hugely successful previous PRIDoC meetings, this Congress will include keynote speakers to challenge and inspire, plenary panels discussing key themes that resonate around  networks, student panels, short oral presentations of  research and innovation, poster presentations (with prizes!), social events and cultural exchanges.

Click here for more information.

ACE News

The Anaesthesia Continuing Education Co-ordinating Committee (ACE) encourages members convening conferences, workshops or meetings that assist ongoing CPD requirements, to add their event to the ACE website.  The parent groups, NZSA, ANZCA and ASA, host the site as part of the tripartite committee. Learn more about the many CPD opportunities available on the website 

Locum opportunity in Vanuatu

There is a opportunity to work as an anaesthesia locum in Vanuatu from mid September until mid October in 2016 and for two weeks 14- 31 December 2016.

Details for locum specialists is as follows:

•         AUD$10,000 a month Salary
•         AUD$50.00 phone
•         AUD$2,500 housing allowance
•         Return airfares
•         Reimbursement for professional indemnity cover, medical check, police checks

Please feel free to circulate through your networks. Health Specialists Limited will assist with all the logistics and ensure you have a temporary registration. For more information contact Melissa Fidow at Health Specialists or on 09 250-5761.

MSD (Advertising)

Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Ltd (MSD) was established in New Zealand in 1962 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc. MSD New Zealand supplies pharmaceuticals and vaccines for New Zealand patients across a wide number of therapeutic areas, including; oncology, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, women's health, fertility, HIV/AIDS, antibacterials/antifungals and immunisations.

MSD is one of the few companies still conducting clinical trials in New Zealand. Current research programmes include oncology (melanoma, lung, gastric, bladder, breast and haematological cancers) diabetes, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, HIV, alzheimer’s and hepatitis C. Merck & Co. Inc, invests $USD 7Bn per annum in R&D for new medicines.