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Allergy New Zealand UPDATE 2 for FundaPen - 500 Free Epipens remaining

29/4/2020

 
Dear Sir/Madam,

While we know COVID-19 is your top priority at the moment, we wanted to give you a quick update on the progress of the FundaPen initiative that you and your members have been supporting.
continued...
  • There are less than 500 Free Epipen® available nationally from the FundaPen initiative.
  • FundaPen continues to be available as an option for your patients renewing their Epipen® on a ‘first-come, first- served basis’.
  • Once all the fully-funded FREE EpiPen® auto-injector pens have been dispensed from Allergy Pharmacy, under the FundaPen initiative, regular prescribing protocols, distribution and fees will apply.

We have attached below a copy of the FundaPen process for your members' reference. It remains unchanged.
FundaPen update
FundaPen key facts and process
Thank you again for supporting this initiative and we wish you well with the challenging situations you are all currently facing.
​
Kind regards
Allergy Education Coordinator
Allergy New Zealand Inc
PO Box 56117, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446

Update on antidepressants during Covid-19

28/4/2020

 
Fluoxetine & Sertraline
Many will be aware of some recent challenges accessing fluoxetine and sertraline.
PHARMAC is aware of the current supply issue affecting fluoxetine cap 20 mg with disruptions to supply of fluoxetine capsules and tablets in New Zealand is not a new issue. 
continued...
  • Mylan's Fluox brand is not currently available due to manufacturing issues
  • Teva’s Arrow-Fluoxetine brand remains in the market to maintain continuity of supply. The Arrow-Fluoxetine caps have been on monthly dispensing since November 2019 and the tablets since late February 2020.
Sertraline Sertrona brand has no supply issues with both the supplier and ProPharma confirming availability
Antidepressants in Pregnancy - a friendly reminder from Dr Paul Daborn (Maternal Mental Health Psychiatrist)
Some GPs are still favouring fluoxetine, which was at one stage the preferred choice. There are risks associated with fluoxetine including earlier delivery, smaller for dates baby and, due to longer half-life (t1/2), more neonatal adaptation syndrome and problems.
Sertraline is the SSRI antidepressant of choice for pregnant women and may be used pre-conception through to the postnatal period and when breastfeeding.
There’s good evidence showing that discontinuing antidepressant medication during pregnancy risks a relapse of depression in up to 70% of women.
Try to expose the unborn baby to as few agents as possible by using the lowest effective dose. For sertraline this may be 50-150mg (rarely 200mg is required).
Current thinking is that there is:
  • no increased risk of congenital abnormalities with first trimester exposure to sertraline.
  • a modest increased risk of pre-term birth and low birth weight.
  • a risk of neonatal adaptation syndrome, but sertraline is probably least problematical in this regard.
It's a good choice in breast feeding as less than 3% of maternal dose secreted into milk with metabolites often being undetectable in the baby.
In summary:
  • Continue sertraline for pregnant women, do not change to another agent.
  • Consider starting sertraline for depression in pregnancy or postnatally if breast feeding.
Nardil (Phenelzine tablets)
Phenelzine is one of two non-reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) indicated for the treatment of depression.
Link Healthcare, the supplier of phenelzine tablets, has notified PHARMAC that they can no longer supply this medication in New Zealand. Nardil is the only Medsafe registered brand of phenelzine tablets in New Zealand. Link Healthcare expect all remaining stock of Nardil, to be depleted by mid-late May 2020
Implications
  • People taking phenelzine will need to be changed to another antidepressant.
  • Please ensure no new patients are started on phenelzine
  • Please transition patients currently on phenelzine on to alternative treatments as soon as possible. Mental Health Subcommittee of the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee advise that tranylcypromine sulphate would be an appropriate alternative MAOI for patients, however:
    • treatment changes need to be individualised for each patient.
    • general practitioners should consult with a psychiatrist (e.g. Primary Care Psychiatrist) regarding treatment options and transition.
    • Tranylcypromine has a psychostimulant activity that phenelzine lacks - careful cross-titration is required
    • Approximate dose equivalence: phenelzine 15 mg ~ tranylcypromine 10 mg.​

​Dr Andrew Darby
Primary Care Psychiatrist


eCALD News - 53rd Edition/April

24/4/2020

 
Click here to read eCALD News 53rd Edition

Unhealthy Takeaways Have No Mauri

24/4/2020

 
Media Release
​28th April 2020 

Unhealthy Takeaways Have No Mauri!
Unhealthy Takeaways Have No Mauri! read here...
That’s the bold message Toi Tangata wants to send to whānau who now have the option of buying take out food again.   
Chief Executive Megan Tunks says, “McDonalds, KFC and the like are heavy in saturated fat and sodium. These options are highly processed food, low in nutrients and is, in our view, without mauri.” 
The country has transitioned to Covid-19 level three restrictions, which has lifted whānau access to takeaway food. As the national Māori nutrition and physical activity agency, Toi Tangata noticed a high number of Māori take to social media, anticipating the return of fast food stores.
The Toi Tangata Chief Executive says, “Even a video of a man, somewhat mourning the loss of McDonald’s in Māori went viral on social media. While it may be a token of humour, it’s not so funny when we look at how big of an impact kai has on an individual's health.”  
Last year, nutrition experts claimed inappropriate nutrition had taken over smoking as the number one health issue facing New Zealanders.  In 2017, Statistics New Zealand identified that over 27 percent of our national food spend was in ready to eat meals and restaurants. 
Tunks says junk food is convenient and whānau need to be prepared and well planned.  
“Unfortunately, some takeaways are more accessible with cheap menu deals for whānau struggling with food poverty.”
“It’s important that whānau rethink their kai treats and if they have to eat on the run, perhaps swap the McDs for a chicken and salad from the supermarket deli." 
"Plan meals ahead and look to our very own  traditional kai. Keep the treats within small portions and if whānau are really over cooking, noodle soups, grilled teriyaki, crumbed or grilled fish, sushi, kebabs and pita pit salads are better options.”
For more information contact
Megan Tunks 
CEO Toi Tangata
022 658 5215

StSS for breast screening services

23/4/2020

 
Kia ora koutou,
I hope you have all been managing well during the last 4 weeks. What an interesting time it’s been!
At Govt Alert Level 3, screening is to recommence as it is deemed an essential preventative service by MoH. We are looking to turn the tap on slowly within BreastScreen Midland and are currently finalising a detailed plan on what that might look like for us to start up in this new working environment. 
continued...
We are clearing all assessments in the next couple of weeks plus starting to schedule and rebook appointments. We will be extending appointment times out to reduce any potential public contact and will adhere to social distancing rules. We will continue to ask relevant COVID-19 screening questions as we did pre-lockdown and front line staff will be using ‘light’ level PPE in line with infection control advice. We plan to start mobile unit revisits on 11 May and will gauge their usage which will allow us to decide if they are efficient to be operational during level 3. The sites we will visit will be Thames and Coromandel. We envisage returning to Kawerau after those sites should they be attended to a level that’s practical.
As part of the plan, we are keen to hear from you what you are looking to do/ provide by way of Support to Screening Services and what capacity do you have to provide this? This will help us to determine what work we need to keep ‘in-house’ and what level of activity we can send your way.
If you could let Angela Wheadon know, so we can factor in your planned activity with ours, that would be great.
Ngaa mihi
Shona Duxfield

Seeking EOI for September 2020 NETP intake at Waikato DHB

22/4/2020

 
ēnā koutou to our partner organisations who we work alongside us to recruit and train new graduate nurses.

As we begin the next recruitment intake I am seeking your expressions of interest in recruiting a new graduate(s) to your organisation.
continued...
Can you please let me know if you are interested in recruiting a new graduate (or more than one) in the upcoming intake, which opens tomorrow, and is for graduates starting 31st August 2020 by completing the table below, and emailing to  lisette.ingram@waikatodhb.health.nz
Organisation name
Hospital/centre/placement where grad will be based
Confirmed with area and they are cc’d in your response? y/n
Key contact for planning: name and Email.
Direct line manager (if different) name and Email
All those involved are aware of the recruitment dates below*.

*Please be aware that the candidate details will be sent out to you on Tuesday 9th June by close of business.
You must have interviewed candidates of interest to you and fed back your preferences to us for submitting to ACE by Wednesday 24th June Close of business. – please be aware that this is a tighter timeline than usual due to Covid restrictions pushing out the ACE timeline.
Please be aware that due to Covid-19 restrictions the following changes are in place:
It is reccomended that interviews are by phone or video conference to avoid unnecessary travel and spread of candidates moving through organisations.
ACE will accept uncertified copies of applicant documents at the application stage. ACE are implementing this temporary change to enable as many eligible applicants as possible to participate in the application process” .
Please note: Employers will need to obtain certified copies of documents before an offer of employment is made.
ACE is giving candidates a longer time to submit to help manage extensions of placement due to student placement challenges under covid. We have a far tighter interview time than previously now.
Noho ora mai rā, nā
Lisette Ingram
Nurse Educator, Graduate Programmes | Professional Development Unit | 17 Ohaupo Road |
e: lisette.ingram@waikatodhb.health.nz | m: 021 285 1906 |

Update from Anglesea Clinic Urgent Care

17/4/2020

 
Kia ora koutou
I hope you are keeping yourselves and your whanau safe during this tumultuous time.
A quick update to you all from us here at Anglesea:
continued...
  • We are open for business and are here to support the GPs after hours
    • Fracture clinics are still operational – despite the low volumes
  • We are also supporting CBAC clinics using some of our staff Dr’s
  • The business has changed – as you are all aware, moving away from FTF visits. We are adapting to this by providing Covid 19 lab result follow-up (specifically for “no-GP listed” patients in addition to our swabbing/assessments)
Like you all, we are concerned about the community’s health and wellbeing and ensuring access to services. When patients do finally come in, they seem to have left it to the “last minute” with their health deteriorating.
Hopefully the situation improves for everyone.
If there is any assistance we can provide you, please let me know.
Kia kaha

Abortion Legislation Update April 2020

17/4/2020

 
COVID-19
​The abortion law reform and the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding in March has been challenging for the sector. It is essential that women can access information and advice about abortion services, and that abortion services continue to be provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very appreciative of the work being undertaken by the sector to provide the best services possible in the circumstances.
continued...
Information for woman considering an abortion
Information and advice for women considering an abortion is available through a number of channels:
·        Information is available online at https://health.govt.nz/abortion
·        The Ministry of Health’s Abortion Line can be contacted on 0800 499 500.  This service is available 8am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 2pm on weekends.
·        Healthline can be contacted on 0800 611 116. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They have interpreters available.
·        Family Planning are undertaking virtual referrals / consultations during the COVID pandemic.
·        GPs are essential services during the COVID pandemic and can continue to provide advice.
Information for health practitioners
Information for health practitioners is available at https://health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/abortion-legislation-information-health-practitioners

Standards of care
Interim Standards for Abortion Services in New Zealand were published yesterday and are available at www.health.govt.nz/publication/interim-standards-abortion-services-new-zealand.

These interim standards are based on the standards from the previous Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) ‘Standards of Care for Women Requesting an Abortion in Aotearoa New Zealand’. The Ministry has made changes to the text of the ASC Standards where necessary to ensure the interim standards reflect the new legislation and its implications. Four new standards have been added in the interim standards to ensure compliance with the amended CSA Act.

Over the course of 2020, the standards will be aligned with broader health and disability services standards, supported by service specific guidance. We will work with the sector to ensure that the new standards continue to provide safe care for women while reflecting modern models of care for abortion services.  There will be opportunities for inclusion of a range of voices in setting the new standards, including DHBs, providers, the current and future workforce, consumers, and Māori.  

Abortion notifications
Our online abortion notifications system is now live.  Abortion notification submissions are due within one month of the procedure. Please email alr@health.govt.nz if you are an abortion service provider and require access to the new notification forms.  

Models of care
The new legislation has provided opportunities for innovation and to review and evolve models of abortion care which will benefit women in the future.  Many DHBs are considering changes to models of care that are enabled by the revised legislation.

Ongoing engagement
The Ministry will continue to use this email channel to provide advice about implementation.

If you have any queries you can contact the Abortion Law Reform Team at alr@health.govt.nz or call the Ministry of Health’s Abortion Information line on 0800 499 500.

We’d appreciate if you pass this message on to all you think may benefit from it. If you receive this message indirectly but would like to receive updates regularly, please email alr@health.govt.nz  

Ngā mihi

The Abortion Law Reform Team

CAPS Hauraki - Free Call Number

9/4/2020

 

Cabinet agreed to extend all expired Driving Licences by up to 6 months

9/4/2020

 
Cabinet agreed to extend all expired licences by up to 6 months, by way of a Rule change.  The amended rules come into force tomorrow.
continued...
The change applies to any licences that were due to expire from 1 January (unless they were otherwise already revoked), and applies for a period for up to 6 months.    
 
Waka Kotahi is working on a plan for transitioning out of the lockdown, recognising that there will be a backlog of licence (and WOF and other requirements) renewals to work through.  As part of that transition, we might shorten the exemption period (i.e. require licences to be renewed before the end of the 6 month period).  We will communicate the transition plan as its developed. 
 
For now the message for general practitioners to communicate to drivers over 75 is that they can continue to drive using their existing licence, as the term of the licence has been deemed to have been extended until further notice.
You can find a summary of the changes here: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-services-update/frequently-asked-questions/rules-changes-general-faqs/

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