26 September 2018

The mood was apparently warm. Goodwill between disparate bodies had been achieved, and this, in itself, was a triumph. It was the launch of the Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa New Zealand after six months of an establishment phase. 

GPNZ reorganises; College of Midwives chief executive Karen Guilliland stepping down; Too many living with undiagnosed HIV; and aspirin not as good as we thought

A Greymouth GP and rural hospital generalist has become the first graduate of the inaugural Australian advanced obstetrics course held in New Zealand, and wants other GPs to follow his lead

The Medical Council’s legal costs for taking disciplinary cases have increased more than sevenfold in three years

The future of primary care services in the Far North town of Kaeo is in the balance, after consultants identified poor financial management and allegations of a “toxic” environment at Whangaroa Health Services Trust.

Practice managers want information on new copayments starting in December, and will not be brushed off with an acknowledgement of pressures and “thanks for your hard work”.

Capital & Coast DHB is to be the recipient of a donated new children’s hospital, but it’s not clear what extra costs the DHB will bear. 

Brendan Canton, general manager of Village Health Limited in Christchurch, won the Practice Manager of the Year award, announced at the Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand conference earlier this month

New rules for rural ambulance crews, meant to safeguard St John patients and staff, are putting other PRIME workers at risk, say two South Island GPs

Primary care advocate John Ayling, a health sector veteran of almost 50 years, has finally retired, saying, “It has been a great ride”