27 November 2020 

Some highlights: President's blog | AQUA | NZSA Executive Meetings |  PHARMAC medical devices | NZSA 2020 conference recordings | ACC update | webAIRS news | Supporting our Pacific colleagues | MOH Data and information strategy | Events

NZSA representatives and staff are looking forward to meeting up with colleagues at this year's AQUA (Annual Queenstown Update in Anaesthesia), 10-12 December, at the Heritage Hotel. Early bird registrations close 1 December. The program covers a wide range of topics, including obstetrics, paediatrics, perioperative medicine, NZ critical bleeding bundle, airways workshops, CICO and more. While there won't be the usual skiing activities, adventure awaits with mountain biking and hiking, and outstanding social activities. Visit www.aqua.ac.nz

The NZSA held a TC on 3 Nov and a face-to-face meeting on 10 Nov. PHARMAC presented to the Executive on its medical devices procurement project (summarised in the next news item). Some highlights from the NZSA meetings included discussion on: the NZSA continuing to prioritise wellbeing by promoting and sharing wellbeing resources with members e.g. Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces toolkit, tailored for NZ anaesthesia departments. NZSA will also look to offer further mentor courses in 2021; support for trainee events including next month's Annual Registrars' Meeting in Auckland (and Anaesthesia Collective Trainee events next year, deferred from 2020 due to COVID disruptions); continuing work with organisations such as NZATS and TAS, to address anaesthesia assistant shortages and training, including input into the proposed AT degree program curriculum. We also had updates from some of our networks, such as obstetrics and paediatrics, and a report by Global Health Committee Chair Dr Indu Kapoor on GHC's work to support our Pacific colleagues. She outlined the new initiative to support Pacific trainees, to help strengthen the Pacific anaesthesia workforce. Find out how you can contribute by donating the equivalent of just one coffee a week here

The Executive Committee also discussed activities for next year such as hospital department visits (the Executive aims to visit anaesthesia departments every two to three years), and improving the organisation's cultural diversity and responsiveness to achieve better health equity.

PHARMAC representatives provided an update on its medical devices procurement project at the NZSA Executive Meeting earlier this month. A major goal of this project is to provide fairer access to medical devices across the country, including regional hospitals.

An expert advice framework approach is being developed, which will include forming a range of sub-committees and sub-groups. There was discussion on what the best groupings would be to seek strategic, operational, and user advice expertise on medical device procurement. The NZSA Executive recommended that PHARMAC access existing groups in the sector for advice such as the NZSA’s subspecialty networks, as well as anaesthetic technicians. NZSA will have input on the configurations of committees which affect anaesthesia and the areas anaesthetists work in. We have emphasised that anaesthetists work across a broad range of areas in the health sector and this has to be reflected in their representation across a range of committees. 

PHARMAC is now setting up a strategic advisory group to guide engagement with DHBs. Ongoing consultation is planned from early next year on operational details. More information on the PHARMAC website 

Attendees at the NZSA 2020 Conference Emerge, Reflect and Reconnect provided very positive feedback on our two-day program of talks - we appreciated the time people took to give us feedback including at the conference, by email or via our post-conference survey. Now we are opening up these diverse and thought-provoking talks to all NZSA members. You can access recordings on the NZSA website, in our members only section (you will need to be logged in). Hear sessions on COVID, wellbeing, culture, trauma, bias, research and perioperative medicine.

The NZSA met with ACC last week and discussed a range of contractual issues, including the inclusion of unit modifiers in the Elective Surgery Contract covering more complex cases (we emailed members about unit modifiers in terms of reimbursement and claiming for unit modifiers). If you feel this information is relevant to your practice managers, please forward the email on. In case you missed our original email you can access the advisory in the members' only section of our website here (you will need to be logged in).

At the meeting ACC agreed to work with NZSA to help develop information for members (FAQs) on contractual issues, including applying for a Clinical Services Contract, and reimbursement on various ACC contracts. 

Andrew Little has been appointed as Health Minister, while Chris Hipkins is responsible for a new portfolio covering the Covid-19 response. Stuff reported that overseeing the health system review and potential restructure of DHBs is a key priority for our new Health Minister. 

Infectious diseases physician Dr Ayesha Verrall has had a meteoric rise to cabinet as a first term MP, taking on the role of Associate Health Minister (with a focus on public health). Peeni Henare has also been appointed an Associate Health Minister, with responsibility for Māori health. The NZSA welcomes all new health appointments and looks forward to meeting with the Health Minister in the coming months. 

Morag McDowell is the newly appointed Health and Disability Commissioner, taking over the role from Anthony Hill, who was in the position since 2010. Prior to joining HDC Ms McDowell spent 13 years as a Coroner in Auckland.

ANZTADC is pleased to announce that an article about the Bowtie Diagram has been published in Current Opinion in Anesthesiology in the December 2020 Edition. Read here A video was also created to explain the diagram which you can view here 

To access the latest Advisory Notices for Anaesthetists (ANA) Alerts, please login or register webAIRS website

The Ministry of Health is developing a data and information strategy to guide the use and management of health information, and has requested input from people working in the sector. MOH recognises quality data is critical for better patient safety, care, and outcomes that enable clinicians to access complete, up-to-date patient data across the continuum of care. 

Complete the survey at the Ministry's consultation hub.  If you wish to discuss the strategy, please contact Simon Ross, Manager Data Governance, Ministry of Health.

The University of Auckland is continuing to survey healthcare professionals and frontline workers on the potential for reuse of PPE, in light of shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey has been extended until 30 November 2020 and can be completed here.

Lifebox has helped to improve surgical and anesthesia safety in more than 100 countries in just 10 years with 25,000 pulse oximeters delivered to anesthesia providers around the world. This has dramatically improved safe surgery for millions of patients, expanding programs to increase teamwork in the operating room and reduce surgical site infections. More recently, Lifebox provided 6,500 pulse oximeters, to support healthcare providers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A video to highlight Lifebox's work and achievements, and to thank its partners, can be viewed here. 

For more information on Lifebox, including making a donation, visit lifebox.org