NZSA Auckland Forum

Thank you to all our members who attended the NZSA's forum on 30 July in Auckland. "Behind the Scenes: A Forum Covering National Issues That Impact On Your Practice" had excellent attendance and we appreciate the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received on the breadth of topics, and the high calibre of speaker presentations. Attendees found the forum useful and highly relevant, especially for those working in private practice. The topics which were rated most highly were the medico-legal presentation by barrister Hanne Janes on the Commerce Act and how it may affect the structure and functioning of private practices, our Health and Safety consultant Keith Robinson on the revised Health and Safety legislation and the update provided by executive member Kathryn Hagen on issues relating to training of assistants to the anaesthetist. Other topics covered included Nurse endoscopy and sedation,  ACC clinical and elective services contracts, e-prescribing, New Zealand's anaesthesia workforce and the Maternity Clinical Information System.

Some of the NZSA forum presentations are now available on our website (You will find presentations under the Education and Events tab; a friendly reminder that you will have to log in first as these are only viewable to NZSA members). 

Widened prescribing rights for nurses

New regulations will enable qualified and approved registered nurses to prescribe from a list of commonly used medicines from 20 September 2016. Designated registered nurses will be able to prescribe medications from a specified list to treat certain common and long term conditions.

Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says: "We’re keen to support registered nurses to work at the top of their scope where it’s safe and appropriate for them to do so."

“The changes mean a suitably trained registered nurse working in a primary care team could treat a person needing medicines for a straightforward condition, potentially removing the need to refer him or her to a doctor or nurse practitioner. This has the potential to deliver faster care, reduce double handling and improve access to medicines."

“Our experience with registered nurses prescribing for people with diabetes, and evidence from other countries such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, tells us that registered nurse prescribing is safe, acceptable to patients, and improves access to medicines.” 

The New Zealand Nursing Council will be responsible for ensuring nurses have met the required education and competence standards before they can become designated prescribers. The Council has provided guidance material for registered nurses and their employers: Preparing to prescribe in primary health and specialty teams: Guidance for registered nurses and employers

In the Media

The debate over unmet need for surgery 
STUFF has been covering the issue of New Zealand's unmet need for surgery in our public health system. While figures vary according to different sources, recent data requested by the Labour Party, under the Official Information Act, shows 45,000 patients seeking elective surgery were sent back to their GPs as they failed to meet their DHB's thresholds. The Ministry of Health's "National Patient Flow" statistics revealed that 5% of patients are not receving surgery and that the DHBs with the highest unmet need for surgery are Hutt Valley, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty. MOH have predicted that as data continues to be collected this figure could reach 10-15%. Columnist Mike Yardley argues that we need to offer a range of incentives to better access the "massively underutilised capacity of the private health system, in tandem with public health." He refers to research from the Health Funds Association that claims the average wait for surgery in the private system is 76 days, compared to 304 days for publicly-funded surgery – up from 224 days in 2009.

Health systems academic Professor Robin Gauld​ says an independent commission should be formed to settle the debate about health funding levels, which often results in a stalemate of spending claims and counterclaims. "I think if it can be established independently, that there is a certain level of funding that needs to be going into the system in order to meet unmet need, then that would be a useful way of defusing the argument."

Health and Safety Manual

Did you know that you are legally obliged to have a Health and Safety policy if you are a PCBU? (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking). If you are an anaesthetist working in a private hospital you are considered a PCBU.

The NZSA has produced a Health and Safety Manual for members with the information you need to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act including an instruction sheet, forms, videos, and a hazard register. You can download your copy today by using your member login for the NZSA website. The resource is under the Resources tab on the home page or can be found on the revolving banner, also on our home page. 

For inquiries on health and safety you can contact Dez Martin on 04 494-0124 or nzsa@anaesthesia.nz

NZSA Annual General Meeting

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. If members are unable to attend we would appreciate you completing a proxy form and emailing it to nzsa@anaesthesia.nz.

NZSA medico-legal forum at AQUA

The NZSA is hosting a medico-legal focused forum at AQUA (Annual Update in Anaesthesia) on Saturday morning 20 August 2016. Barrister Hanne Janes will be presenting on the Commerce Act and how it may affect the structure and functioning of private practices. There will also be a summary of some of the topics covered at our 30 July 2016 forum, including requirements under Health and Safety legislation and information about the new NZSA Health and Safety manual. We look forward to seeing our members at AQUA.

Attention: Supervisors of training and advanced trainees

Please be aware that the Part 3 registrations are open with limited capacity. The Part 3 one day course on 19 November is designed for advanced trainees and will feature workshops, small group discussions and interactive presentations.

Kathryn Hagen (NZSA Executive member) attended the inaugural Part 3 course held at Ko Awatea in 2011. She says: "It was a great opportunity to meet other trainees without the stresses of the exams hanging over us. What I particularly liked about it was the chance to ask questions and get information about what life after training is like- a chance to see the different directions a FANZCA can take you and also some tips on how to acquire that sought after consultant position.  If you are post Part 2 and now have the head space to think and plan for the future, I highly recommend the meeting."

Part 3 will take place at the Waipuna Hotel in Auckland. Places are limited to 24 to ensure participants gain optimal value. To view the programme and to register please visit our Part 3 web page. You can also check out bios of course speakers and facilitators. The NZSA is now hosting the Part 3 course, which was previously run by NZSA and the New Zealand National Committee of ANZCA.

New issue of NZ Anaesthesia magazine

Members will have received the latest issue of our magazine. The changing roles of doctors and medical anaesthetists; NZSA's rebrand; NZSA advocacy with ACC and the NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association; an update on the registered nurse to the anaesthetist role; a feature article on our overseas aid work; and an incredible nationwide cycling adventure are just some of the stories in the August issue of New Zealand Anaesthesia. Also in this issue, our deputy trainee representative Morgan Edwards provides advice and insights on how to tackle new parenthood and training, we profile incoming NZSA President Kathryn Hagen and you can read about a world first new simulation training course for New Zealand anaesthetists.

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.  

Resources for anaesthetists and patients

The NZSA website has a resources tab with educational material approved by the NZSA executive. We have links to three videos covering epidurals, malignant hyperthermia and your anaesthetic. We encourage you to share these resources with your 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.

Events on NZSA website

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

New Zealand Simulation Instructors (NZSIC) Course
This course (31 October-1 November 2016) is an introduction to principles and techniques of adult education, including instruction and facilitation and the use of simulation and debriefing. It is suitable for healthcare professionals training to become competent instructors using simulation. This includes Specialist Anaesthetists who have completed an ANZCA EMAC course and who would like to become an EMAC instructor. The course is also suitable for doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health workers wishing to use simulation techniques in their education practices.

Course participants should have completed at least two days of simulation-based education prior to undertaking this course. This course, being held at Wellington Hospital, qualifies for the ANZCA CPD programme. A certificate will be issued upon completion of the course. For more information: NZSIC Course flyer 2016.

Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Conference (PRIDoC) - Talking about Transformation
PRIDoC (27 November-1 December) will be held in Auckland and 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 which 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.