NZNO seeks your feedback on NZQA’s proposal to recognise micro-credentials, alongside other qualifications, from July. Micro-credentials are usually smaller than a qualification and recognise a defined set of skills and knowledge by an industry or community.

Read or download: Micro-credential Consultation document 

NZNO seeks member feedback on this Plan and new funding model intended to give:

“communities equity of access to different types of pharmacist services, in different ways and places, which are tailored to individual need. This means that some services in future could be provided outside of the pharmacy. District Health Boards will focus on improving health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika, and four other groups, which are also set out in the Pharmacy Action Plan:

• consumers with chronic conditions.
• frail and elderly.
• mental health consumers.
• giving every child a healthy start.”

NZNO is interested in your feedback on the Plan and in particular your views on how this will affect the:

• integration of pharmacists in community health care and
• delivery of, and equal access, to  primary health care and nurse-led services.

A good overview of the plan is provided here:

https://tas.health.nz/assets/Publications/Pharmacy-Documents/Integrated-pharmacists-in-the-community/FINAL-Integrated-Pharmacist-Vision-Booklet.pdf

Feedback to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by 3 April 2018

NZNO seeks member feedback on this bill regarding its impact on nursing education including:

1. a requirement that the councils of tertiary institutions and councils of polytechnics have at least one elected permanent member of staff and at least one elected student  and
2. its support of the introduction of free tertiary education through creating a  new offence of making a false representation in an application for free tertiary education.

This bill amends the Education Act 1989 and the Education (Update) Amendment Act 2017.

Please find a link below to the bill:

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2018/0015/latest/LMS8532.html

Feedback to sueg@nzno.org.nz by 6 April 2018.

NZNO welcomes your feedback on this Bill. Its intent is to help achieve a significant and sustained reduction in child poverty and to enhance the overall wellbeing of children.

The purpose of this bill is to:

• encourage a focus on child poverty reduction,
• facilitate political accountability against published targets,
• require transparent reporting on child poverty levels, and
• create a greater commitment by Government to address child well-being.

The bill and bills digest can be found here:

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_76267/child-poverty-reduction-bill

Feedback to leannem@nzno.org.nz by 28 March 2018.

NZNO seeks member feedback on the above bill which  aims to provide:

• better visibility of decisions about practitioner practice
• greater recognition of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and co-operation
• better workforce information.

We strongly recommend that you read the Bill’s Digest

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-digests/document/52PLLaw25401/health-practitioners-competence-assurance-amendment-bill which summarises amendments to the HPCA Act affecting : 

• Competence and fitness to practice (Part 3)
• Complaints and discipline (Part 4)
• Structure of authorities (Part 6)
• Naming Policy (Part 7)

The Bill can be found here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_76354/health-practitioners-competence-assurance-amendment-bill

Feedback due to policyanalysts@nzno.org.nz by 29 March 2018.

This Bill aims to restore key minimum standards and protections for employees, and to implement a suite of changes to promote and strengthen collective bargaining and union rights in the workplace.

NZNO welcomes your feedback on this bill. Please find a link to a description of the bill attached below:

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_76257/employment-relations-amendment-bill

Feedback due to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by Tuesday 20 March 2018.

Following an objection raised by the Royal New Zealand of College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP), the Medicines Classification Committee is reconsidering its recommendation to amend the current classification for influenza vaccine to include registered nurses. (See Item 5.1.1 MCC Agenda http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/Agendas/Agen60/agen60.htm)

NZNO seeks member feedback on the proposed amendment of the influenza vaccine classification statement to include RNs.

Feedback to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by Monday 19^th March 2018.

NZNO is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule Rules, making them easier to find, use and apply, including: 

• tidying and consolidating the existing hospital and community schedules, and 
• developing practical resources to assist interpretation of key rules.

PHARMAC does not intend to change the meaning of any rules or review any restrictions.

Details of the proposed new rules can be found here: https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/

Feedback due to policyanalysts@nzno.org.nz by 19 March 2018. 

This Bill seeks to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to:

• introduce an exception and a statutory defence for  terminally ill people to possess and use illicit cannabis and to possess a cannabis utensil;
• provide a regulation-making power to enable the setting of standards that products manufactured, imported and supplied under licence must meet; and
• amend Schedule 2 of the Act so that cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD products are no longer classed as controlled drugs.(See WHO statement)

Note that the Bill is intended as an interim, compassionate measure until affordable quality products are available under a proposed medicinal cannabis scheme.

Member feedback is sought on both the narrowly focused bill, and what should be considered in developing the wider medicinal cannabis scheme. NZNO’s position statement on cannabis

Please find links below to the bill and to NZNO’s Position Statement on Medical Marijuana (cannabis).

Please send feedback to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by March 21, 2018.

This Bill gives effect to 2016 recommendations and responds to three discrete issues raised in the Law Commission’s review of burial and cremation law. The Bill covers reporting and privacy requirements for births, adoptions, name changes, sexual assignment and reassignment, marriages, civil unions, and deaths, including digital and online access. It seeks a balance between efficient public services and third party access.  NZNO is seeking member feedback on any issues with nurses’ access to BDM registrations, eg tracing children, gender reassignment etc. and the impact on health.

Read the bill here: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill

Feedback due: to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by Friday 23 February 2018.

NZNO seeks your feedback on the Medical Sciences Council’s proposed development of an online examination as a pathway to registration for overseas-trained practitioners. You may also wish to participate in the online survey.

Read or download:

• https://www.mscouncil.org.nz/news-media/consultation/
• MSC Consultation Document (PDF)
• Online survey

Feedback due to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by 23 February 23 2018.

NZNO seeks feedback on the ICN’s revised position statement on Climate Change, Nurses and Health, particularly in relation to its relevance, recommended additions (eg: new research) or modifications.

Feedback due to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by 2 February 2018.

NZNO seeks your feedback on  the End of Life Choice Bill.   The purpose of the Bill is to give people with a terminal illness or a grievous and irremediable medical condition the option of requesting assisted dying. The motivation for this Bill is compassion. It allows people who so choose, and are eligible under this Bill, to end their lives in peace and dignity, surrounded by loved ones.

The bill:

• defines who is eligible for assisted dying
• details the provisions to ensure that this a free choice
• outlines the steps to ensure a person is mentally capable of understanding the nature and consequences of assisted dying.  

This guidance document is aimed at pharmaceutical companies, health professional organisations, Medsafe, the Ministry of Health or individuals who are considering applying to change the legal classification of a medicine in New Zealand. The purpose of this guidance document is to provide general advice on the process for changing the legal classification of a medicine in New Zealand to help ensure the process is easy to understand and transparent.

The document can be found here: www.medsafe.govt.nz

This is the second consultation currently underway with Medsafe - the first is on observers at Ministerial Advisory Committees. Both are due by 15 January.

Feedback due to sueg@nzno.org.nz by 12 January 2018.

What is the NZNO strategy for nursing about?

NZNO does not currently have a comprehensive nursing strategy but one is needed. This new strategy will provide a vehicle for the following:

• A framework that signals our direction and to promote nursing
• Provides unity of purpose
• A clear document for decision-makers and other stakeholders
• Public expression of nursing endeavour and intention.

We invite you to be a part of shaping this important document. NZNO members can respond to the confidential draft which is currently undergoing consultation.

Send feedback to nursingstrategy@nzno.org.nz by 19 January 2018.

This important strategy has been written to inform, inspire and influence – we welcome your involvement as it will become a flagship document going forward.