The NHC has published three consultation documents on their website http://nhc.health.govt.nz/our-work/consultations on:

1)  Four 'Cardiac Cluster' assessments for sector feedback.  These include:

• renal artery denervation for patients with refractory hypertension
• percutaneous interventions for the treatment of mitral regurgitation
• percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation
• cardiac catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

The consultation document summarises the findings of these assessments, and gives the NHC’s consequent draft advice and recommendations to the Minister regarding the public funding of these interventions in New Zealand.

2)  An exploration of the model of care for Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD) patients. This recommends five areas for further assessment work.

3)  An exploration of the model of care for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This recommends five areas for further assessment work.

Note: Please send your comments directly to the NHC (please forward us a copy of your submission if you do make one).

The Ministry is seeking feedback on two proposed amendments to the way nurse practitioners and midwives prescribe controlled drugs for their patients. The aim of the proposals is to improve patient access to timely care, make best use of the skills within the nurse practitioner and midwifery workforces, and reduce patient cost. Full details are available in the document below:

Feedback Due: Please take time to consider these proposals and provide your feedback to, Jill Clendon, jillc@nzno.org.nz or 03 546 3941 by 8^th April.

Diabetes Nurse Prescriber roll out:

http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/consultation-2014-03-24-diabetes-nurse-prescribers/

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to allow all Diabetes Nurse Prescribers to have their prescriptions subsidised. Currently PHARMAC subsidises prescriptions written by only 27 named Diabetes Nurse Prescribers who participated in the pilot Diabetes Nurse demonstration sites.

In summary, this proposal would result in all Diabetes Nurse Prescribers having their prescriptions subsidised. This is the result of a nationwide rollout of the Diabetes Nurse Prescribers demonstration sites.

Details of the proposal and background information can be found on the website listed above.

Feedback Due: Please note feedback is due with PHARMAC on April 7 so please forward your feedback to Marilyn Head as soon as possible in order for us to be able to make an informed submission. Send feedback to Senior Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head, marilynh@nzno.org.nz or ph 04 494 6372

NZNO is committed to the representation of members and the promotion of nursing and midwifery. NZNO provides professional leadership and advice in a range of areas including models of care.

In 2011, NZNO published 2020 and Beyond: A Vision for Nursing establishing the parameters for future work in each of the areas of the vision. As a result, in 2012 and 2013, NZNO consulted on and published its education policy framework. In the latter half of 2013, work was undertaken on the NZNO models of care policy framework. Using the vision as a starting point, a research project was undertaken exploring nurse perceptions of models of care. The research identified a clear set of principles that have been used to underpin the draft policy framework on models of care that we are now consulting on. The research report can be found on the NZNO website: www.nzno.org.nz/resources/nzno_publications under Research.

Our intention is to consult widely – we have already consulted with NZNO member groups and are now sending this document out more widely to other nursing and health professional groups and the wider public. We attach here for you the second draft of the policy framework on models of care that presents NZNO’s statements and goals on models of care and what needs to be done to achieve these goals.

We are seeking your feedback on the draft policy framework. In particular, we are interested in your feedback on the following points:

Content:

• Are there any gaps or is there too much content?
• Do you agree or disagree with the statements or the order in which they are presented?

Action points:

• Do you support these?
• Do you have any recommendations for further or amended action points?

Case studies/examples

• Are these useful inclusions?
• Do you have any other suggestions?

Any other comments or feedback.

Please feel free to write directly on the framework document itself using track changes (or in pen then scan and email or post if this is easier), or on this document. Please forward to your members as appropriate. All comments and feedback are warmly welcomed no matter how small or large.

Please forward your feedback on the policy by 18 April 2014 to jillc@nzno.org.nz or post to PO Box 1195, Nelson 7040.

Enquiries to:  Jill Clendon - Nursing Policy Adviser/Researcher

Ph 03 5463941

Quality is an area of great importance in health care. NZNO originally published their Quality in the Workplace handbook in 2007. Since this time, there has been a proliferation of resources made available on quality – many of these are available on line. For this reason, NZNO has chosen to utilise a new format for the new edition of Quality in the Workplace: an E-book.

The E-book format is available for download as a PDF and for optimal usage, this should be read online in order to enable the links to be active and usable.

We hope you enjoy this new format and we are interested to hear your thoughts on ease of use, layout, relevance of the links and other content, and whether the new handbook will be of use to you in your everyday work.

Please forward your feedback on the E-book by 30 April 2014 to jillc@nzno.org.nz.

Enquiries to: Jill Clendon - Nursing Policy Adviser/Researcher

Email: jillc@nzno.org.nz

Phone: 03 5463941 or 0800283848

Following the recent completion of the new Tier One Specification for Public Health Services, the Ministry is currently reviewing the Tier Two Specifications for Public Health Services.

Service specifications are used by the Ministry in contracting to describe the services being purchased and include the purchase units and reporting requirements for providers.  Currently, public health services are defined on an issue by issue basis eg, communicable diseases, tobacco control, physical activity & nutrition, well child promotion, mental health promotion, national screening programmes etc.  The draft new specifications will take a more functions-based approach, while still ensuring specificity where required:

1. Health Assessment and Surveillance
2. Public Health Capacity Development
3. Health Promotion
4. Health Protection
5. Preventive Interventions

The draft new Tier Two, and in some cases Tier Three, specifications and a template for making submissions are now available for review on the Nationwide Services Framework Library website:

http://www.nsfl.health.govt.nz/apps/nsfl.nsf/pagesmh/483

The Ministry intends to finalise the new specifications within the next 6 months, so that they are available for use from July 2015.

We have been invited to provide feedback and there may also be sector consultation workshops which we will keep you posted on.

Feedback Due: Please forward your feedback to Senior Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head, marilynh@nzno.org.nz or 04 494 6372 or 0800 283 848 by 7 May 2014

This Bill is an omnibus one that proposes reform of New Zealand's workplace health and safety system. The Bill seeks to replace the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Machinery Act 1950.

This Bill reforms New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system, following the work of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety and the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy. Its main purpose is to provide for a balanced framework to secure the health and safety of workers and workplaces. The Bill is part of a package of major changes to the health and safety system that has already resulted in the establishment of WorkSafe New Zealand. The new regime is based on the Australian Model Work Health and Safety Act, with modifications to take account of differences in the New Zealand context. The new regime recognises that a well-functioning health and safety system relies on participation, leadership, and accountability by government, business, and workers. This includes:

• a law that is flexible enough to work appropriately for small and large businesses and high-risk and low-risk sectors, without imposing unnecessary compliance costs:
• obligations placed on the people in a work environment who create the risk and are best able to manage the risk:
• a worker participation model that provides for better levels of participation and helps workers to have the knowledge and accountability to keep their colleagues safe:
• an appropriate system of regulations and guidance to ensure that people understand their obligations and can comply with them:
• an effective enforcement regime with graduated categories of offences and penalties to provide better guidance to the courts about appropriate fine levels:
• a Workplace Health and Safety Strategy that is approved by the Minister of Labour following development through an open consultative process:
• ensuring that participants in the health and safety regulatory system are able to share information where appropriate.

This bill will have widespread ramifications in the workplace and we are interested in your feedback. 

A copy of the legislation is available here: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2014/0192/latest/versions.aspx

Feedback Due: Please send your feedback to Senior Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head, marilynh@nzno.org.nz or 04 494 6372 by April 4th 2014.

Late in 2013 the Nursing Council approved the below draft documents for consultation.

The background to the draft documents relates to a request from Council to review the process for ongoing monitoring of nursing education programmes leading to registration in the registered nurse scope of practice (the programmes), and the ability of the monitoring process to provide objective data about the quality of programmes.

The Council requires schools of nursing offering a bachelor’s degree in nursing programme to submit an Annual Report to the Council by May 1 each year (Council Handbook). While schools of nursing submit annual reports as required the information submitted has not been presented in a consistent format and this had made collating information across schools and analysing patterns and trends difficult.

Following the publication of “The Future Nursing Workforce: Supply Projections 2010-2035” the Council committed to improving data related to students in nursing programmes to assist work force planning. As identified in the publication there will be an increased demand for registered nurses over time in order to meet the health care needs of New Zealand (NCNZ August 2013). In order to plan and prepare for possible workforce changes the Council requires reliable and consistent data across a range of areas including pre-registration nurse education.

The draft annual report template has been designed to collect relevant information regarding the number of students undertaking the programmes, success and retention rates, the make up of the student groups including age and ethnicity and planned increases or decreases in student numbers.

The draft monitoring tool evidence guide has been developed based on the Education Programme Standards for the Registered Nurse Scope of Practice and clearly identifies the types of evidence required to comprehensively assess each standard. The guide also links to the information provided by the schools of nursing in the annual report template.

Both draft documents are available here:

• Draft Annual Report Template
• Draft Monitoring Tool evidence guide

Feedback Due: Please send comments to Policy Analyst, Jill Clendon, jillc@nzno.org.nz, 03 5463941 by April 5^th 2014

PHARMAC - Proposal to list a range of Surgical Sutures and Wound Care products supplied by Universal Specialties Ltd Limited

http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/consultation-2014-03-11-sutures-wound-care/

Feedback Due: Please send comments ASAP to Marilyn Head, Senior Policy Analyst  by 20 March 2014.

The agenda for the 51st meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee is now available on the Medsafe website:  http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/agen51.htm.

There are a number of medications relevant to nurses that are being considered for reclassification. This may have an impact on patient accessibility to these items and we are interested in seeking your feedback on the impact these reclassifications may have on consumers.

Feedback Due: Please send your feedback to Marilyn Head, Policy Analyst: marilynh@nzno.org.nz 04 494 6372 by Wednesday March 26^th.

http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/psychoactive-substances-regulations-consultation-document

This paper consults on proposals for regulations relating to licensing, product approval processes, labelling and packaging details, place of sale and advertising, and fees and levies. The regulations will support the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 (the Act) which came into force last year and do away with interim measures. NZNO made a submission in support of the Psychoactive Substances Bill.

2014-03 MoH Psychoactive substances Regulation_NZNO

Feedback Due: Please send comments to Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head  marilynh@nzno.org.nz, 04 494 6372 by March 18, 2014.

Following a first round of consultation, PHARMAC has developed proposals for change to the current decision criteria for its funding decisions. PHARMAC 's role has expanded to include new areas such as hospital medicines vaccines and medical devices and the proposed decision criteria will apply to these areas too. The document can be accessed here

• http://www.pharmac.health.nz/about/operating-policies-and-procedures/decision-criteria-consultation

The key change from the previous list of criteria is having:

• a high level summary of what PHARMAC thinks about  when making decisions,
• an outline of 'factors for consideration' and how they are applied
• a decision making matrix, which is placed within a
• broad operational framework.

Other changes include broadening the scope in relation ot populations with health disparities, removing criterion 9 (i.e. "other criteria PHARMAC thinks fit) and rewording the "factors for consideration". A supporting information document will also be developed. 

Your feedback on this very important document which determines how a significant proportion of health resources will be allocated, is important.

Feedback Due: Please send comments to Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head marilynh@nzno.org.nz 04 494 6372 by April 10 2014.

The Health Select Committee is welcoming submissions for the Smokefree Environments (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment bill.  The key objectives of the new legislation are to:

1. reduce the appeal of tobacco products and smoking, particularly for young people,
2. further reduce any wider social acceptance and approval of smoking and tobacco products
3. increase the noticeability and effectiveness of mandated health warning messages and images; and
4. reduce the likelihood that consumers might acquire false perceptions about the harms caused by tobacco projects.

The Smokefree Coalition, (of which NZNO is a member) has produced a plain pack submission and media toolkit (see link below) to assist those members who wish to submit an individual response, with ensuring clear and consistent messages are maintained. 

http://www.sfc.org.nz/pubsresources.php

Feedback Due: For those members who wish to provide comments for NZNO submission please send to Leanne Manson, Policy Analyst Māori leannem@nzno.org.nz, or 4946389 or via MSC 0800 283848, by 14 March 2014.

Is it possible to reverse the trend towards increasing health disparities between rich and poor, employed and unemployed, Pakeha and Maori, Pacific and Asian, urban and rural, young and old, people with and without disabilities?  How can we ensure that th/ose who have the potential to benefit most from good primary health care receive it?

Professor Don Matheson, Massey University, along with other eminent health researchers and practitioners, believes that   "New Zealand people have the potential to be the healthiest in the world and have the highest quality of health care in the world. This goal is achievable now, irrespective of the export price for milk, the level of GDP, the DHB deficits, or awaiting the latest high tech cure."

This paper "outlines a primary health care policy that will lower access barriers and build high quality sustainable health services."  

NZNO seeking feedback from nurses about the recommendations made - this is election year - have your say now!

Feedback Due: Please send comments to Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head  marilynh@nzno.org.nz, 04 494 6372 by February 28, 2013

Three separate consultations for specifications for gloves

DR4011.1 - Single-use medical examination gloves Part 1: Specification for gloves made from rubber latex or rubber solution (ISO 11193-1:2008, MOD) (Revision of AS/NZS 4011:1997 (in part))

To cover rubber and poly(vinyl chloride) gloves respectively, this Part 1 of AS/NZS 4011 specifies rubber gloves only.

DR4011.2 - Single-use medical examination gloves Part 2: Specification for gloves made from poly(vinyl chloride) (ISO 11193-2:2006, MOD) (Revision of AS/NZS 4011:1997 (in part))

To cover rubber and poly(vinyl chloride) gloves respectively, this Part 2 of AS/NZS 4011 specifies poly(vinyl chloride) gloves only

DR4179 - Single-use sterile rubber surgical gloves? Specification (ISO 10282:2014, MOD) (Revision of AS/NZS 4179:1997)

To adopt the ISO Standard with Australian/New Zealand technical variations to ISO 10282

Feedback Due: Please send comments to Policy Analyst, Marilyn Head by March 14, 2014 marilynh@nzno.org.nz, 04 494 6372