ePulse Archives

Tuesday 22nd September 2009 

News

•    Auckland Laboratory Testing Survey – Report from President, Dr Harry Pert
•    Your View: Proposed Changes to the RNZCGP Constitution
•    General Practice Palliative Care Survey
•    Safety of insulin glargine (Lantus)
•    Pertussis – free vaccine for GPs, practice nurses, midwives, Plunket nurses and Well Child providers
•    Seasonal influenza vaccination programme ends
•    Measles – funding for active recall of 13 to 20-year-olds for immunisation
•    Health navigator Website

Consultation

•    Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Older People: A background paper - Draft for consultation
•    A special support service for former timber workers
•    PHARMAC (no consultations this week)
•    Consultation on the enrolled nurse and nurse assistant scopes of practice under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003)
•    Have your say on New Zealand's road safety strategy to 2020
•    Medicines Classification Committee

Vacancies & appointments

•    GP - Wellington  
•    Locum Doctor Needed – Eden Terrace
•    GP or GPs - Girven Road Medical Centre
•    Locum – Whakatane
•    GP Central Auckland
•    GP – Invercargill long term
•    GP – Invercargill short term
•    Clinical Head of Department - Kaitaia Hospital, Northland, New Zealand
•    Clinical Head of Department - Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand
•    Associate Highland Park
•    GP – West Auckland
•    GP Hamilton
•    Whai Oranga O Te Iwi Health Centre, Wainuiomata
•    GP - Dinsdale Medical Centre Hamilton

Research

•    Can you help the Medical Council improve processes to assist international medical graduates to settle and practise in New Zealand?
•    The Taiwan Family Medicine Research Award – Call for Applications 

Wonca Daily Alerts

CME

•    Workshops –Treatment options for NMSC, melanoma and dermascopy
•    The Australasian Conference on Obesity
•    The Doctor-Patient Relationship: A Balint Weekend Workshop
•    A Communications Skills Refresher Course on Offer for Doctors Preparing for PRIMEX
•    Living in an Ageing Society – Shaping Tomorrow Today, Convention Centre, Wellington, 7-9 October 2009
•    Aviation Medicine for Doctors
•    Managing Sexual Problems for Medical Practitioners
•    Winter Escape Emergency Medicine Update - Terrace, BC. March 15-19, 2010
•    Faculty of Pain Medicine, ANZCA ‘Duelling with Pain’ Meeting
•    Intersections and Transitions – Royal Australasian College of Physicians Annual Scientific Meeting
•    Smoking Cessation in Practice – E-learning tool

Conferences

News

Auckland Laboratory Testing Survey – Report from President, Dr Harry Pert
In response to concerns from a number of members about the impact on practices and patients of the Labtests transition in Auckland, we have surveyed 1145 Auckland faculty members via email. The response rate to date for this survey is 34.4% (394 GPs). GPs (and their patients) can be assured that we are working to inform solutions to identified issues. A wide range of comments and suggestions made by survey respondents have already been passed on to ProCare Health who are meeting regularly with Labtests to discuss changes to the service in response to GP feedback. The College working closely with ProCare to help ensure problems are resolved. We have now engaged Professor Susan Dovey of Otago University to provide an independent analysis. This will be published as soon as it is available. Initial results show that three out of four respondents have significant or serious concerns which Associate Professor Dovey is now analysing for us. The Minister of Health, DHB Chairs, Health and Disability Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner will be informed of the results. We will be contacting Auckland GPs again in the near future and the survey will remain open until 5pm Friday. It may be re-run in future to determine changes in the service in response to the work being done.

Your View: Proposed Changes to the RNZCGP Constitution
The constitutional steering group has released a discussion paper on possible changes to the College’s constitution including a smaller board and changes to the current faculty structure.

We would like to hear members' views on the structure of the College and are seeking feedback between now and December 24, 2009.  To view the proposed review, please go to http://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/review-of-the-constitution-2/ and send your comments to helen.colebrook@rnzcgp.org.nz. 

General Practice Palliative Care Survey
Following a recent survey of rural General Practitioners, the Palliative Care Council of New Zealand is trying to build a broader picture of palliative care access across New Zealand. The Council believes General Practice services are a vital component of palliative care and wants to hear from you about the level of palliative care service you provide. We have developed a very short online survey to get more specific detail about services provided. There are 10 questions and it should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. The survey will close on 19th of October 2009. Please click on this link to go to the online survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ZxgCM7Vu_2fYU5w0iJH0GJNQ_3d_3d.

The results of this survey will form a report to the Palliative Care Council (a copy will also be sent to the RNZCGP) and may be used to develop advice for the Minister of Health. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Wayne Naylor, Senior Analyst, Palliative Care Council - wayne_naylor@cancercontrolcouncil.govt.nz.

Safety of insulin glargine (Lantus)
Medsafe and the Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee (MARC) have reviewed the safety of insulin glargine (Lantus) following the publication of four studies which suggested that this insulin may be associated with a higher risk of cancer. The MARC concluded that there were significant problems with these studies and could not determine whether there was an increased risk of cancer associated with the use of insulin glargine.  It is possible that the reported findings arose by chance. As a precaution, prescribers are advised that until further information becomes available patients should only use insulin glargine when it has specific benefits for them. Patients currently on insulin glargine are encouraged to discuss this with their GP or specialist at their next routine appointment, but not to change their treatment without medical advice. The MARC commented that people with diabetes seem to have a somewhat higher risk of cancer than people without diabetes.  This risk may be reduced by appropriate lifestyle changes. As with any medicine, prescribers are reminded to report all suspected adverse reactions to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring. Further information on the safety of insulin glargine will be available from Thursday morning (24 September) at: http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/MediaContents.asp

Pertussis – free vaccine for GPs, practice nurses, midwives, Plunket nurses and Well Child providers
The Ministry of Health has developed a national plan to reduce the severity of an imminent pertussis epidemic. The number of notified pertussis cases has risen this year. From January to August, there have been 876 notified cases – more than four times higher than for the same period last year. Information on pertussis notifications can be found in the monthly ESR notifiable disease surveillance reports at http://www.surv.esr.cri.nz/surveillance/monthly_surveillance.php Newborns and young babies are at highest risk of serious complications associated with this disease, many of which require hospitalisation. They often contract the disease from adults. To stop this disease spreading to the very young, they will be offering the pertussis vaccine (Boostrix) free to GPs, practice nurses, midwives, Plunket nurses and Well Child providers from 1 October to 31 December 2009. Midwives, Plunket nurses and Well Child workers will be provided with a voucher letter which they will be asked to take to their general practice. Please retain this voucher in your patient records. The immunisation benefit subsidy can be claimed for people with these vouchers. The electronic claiming system can be used for the pertussis-containing vaccine (Boostrix, dTap) for adults by using the indication dTap 11Y. Practice nurses and GPs can order free pertussis vaccine for themselves in the normal way but the immunisation benefit subsidy does not apply for these groups. If you have any queries about anything in this update, please email immunisation@moh.govt.nz.

Seasonal influenza vaccination programme ends
This year’s extended seasonal influenza vaccination programme draws to a close on 30 September. The Ministry of Health reports that there has been a record uptake of this vaccine this year, thanks largely to the efforts of practice nurses, GPs and other health professionals who have promoted it.  Offering this vaccine to all New Zealanders has helped protect people from getting both seasonal and pandemic influenza at the same time, reducing the burden on stretched health services.  Work is underway on planning for next year’s influenza season and the Ministry will advise when the 2010 programme has been confirmed.

Measles – funding for active recall of 13 to 20-year-olds for immunisation
In recognition of the additional workload for practices in recalling 13 to 20-year-olds for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation over the next few months, the Ministry has asked District Health Boards and Primary Health Organisations to assist practices in whatever ways they can. The immunisation benefit subsidy (IBS) can be claimed in the usual way for everyone up to the age of 40 years, but no extra fee may be charged. For more information about claiming, please see the GP update sent on 7 September which is available at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/immunisation-diseasesandvaccines-measles Measles is still circulating in New Zealand but the rate of confirmed cases in regions with outbreaks seems to be slowing.  A weekly surveillance report is available on our measles webpage at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/immunisation-diseasesandvaccines-measles

Health navigator Website
Health Navigator NZ is a community based, non-profit project commenced by a group of GPs, nurses and allied health professionals for our colleagues and patients. The project is being led by the Health Navigator Charitable Trust in collaboration with a range of partner organisations including Heart Foundation (NZ), Asthma Respiratory NZ, SPARC, Mental Health Foundation, Arthritis NZ, Diabetes NZ, Webhealth and local District Health Boards. Their key aim is to link all the key health resources together and develop an online gateway or portal that will simplify the process of finding educational resources, tools and quality tested health information that will support and enable individuals and their whanau to manage their health and long-term conditions more effectively in partnership with their healthcare team. A further aim is to develop a useful resource for health providers with a focus on improving chronic care, self management support, evidence-based care, reducing health inequalities, continual quality improvement and improving health outcomes. The website can be viewed at www.healthnavigator.org.nz and was launched at the RNZCGP Conference on 11th Sept.

Consultation

Thank you to those members who found time to provide comment on the issues in the previous edition of ePulse.

Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Older People: A background paper - Draft for consultation
Members wishing to comment on this are asked to respond directly to the Ministry of Health by 6 Nov. The background paper and instructions are available at  http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/9529/$File/food-nutrition-guidelines-older-people-consultation-sep09.pdf

A special support service for former timber workers
The MOH have contracted Allen & Clarke to design and consult widely on a possible special support service for workers in the timber industry who were exposed to PCP. Further information, including details of a public meeting on 17 September are available from http://allenandclarke.co.nz/database2/p-news-editions.php?edition=20090814. Written feedback can be made directly to Allen & Clarke by 2 October.

PHARMAC
No consultations this week.

Consultation on the enrolled nurse and nurse assistant scopes of practice under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003)
The Nursing Council has released the above document for consultation and it is available at http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/. Submissions will close on 1 October. Members are encouraged to respond directly to the Nursing Council.

Have your say on New Zealand's road safety strategy to 2020
The Ministry of Transport are preparing a road safety strategy called Safer Journeys and have launched a discussion document that presents New Zealand's key road safety challenges and outlines 60 possible initiatives to address them. Further information is available at www.saferjourneys.govt.nz Responses can be made direct to the MOT before 2 October.

Medicines Classification Committee
The agenda for the 42nd meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee (MCC) is now available on the Medsafe website: http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/agen42.htm. The deadline for comments on the agenda is Friday 25 September 2009.

Vacancies

GP - Wellington
GP required for permanent associate position in friendly well-established four-doctor family practice, 8 or 9/10ths, to replace a male GP who is moving away. The position would be salaried with option of partnership in the longer-term if desired. The work is enjoyable and varied, as our patients are of different ages, ethnicities, occupations and socio-economic backgrounds. FRNZCGP is preferred but not essential. Start date from end of November. Contact Raewyn, practice manager, on 04 388 7018 for more information, or send CV to manager@miramarmedical.co.nz

Locum Doctor Needed – Eden Terrace
Flexible schedule, clinic will accommodate patient schedule to availability of locum doctor. TCM Clinic, Eden Terrace, Auckland 09 379-5585, nzlkms@hanmail.net

GP or GPs - Girven Road Medical Centre
GP or GPs (female preferred) for about 4 to 6 tenths. Time table and financial arrangements to suit. Come and enjoy the Bay. Contact Girven Rd Medical Centre (07) 5755009, (0274) 773344, grtingey@clear.net.nz

Locum – Whakatane
Locum cover needed now in our friendly main street practice, for all or part of the time up till February 2010. Flexible sessions, Monday to Friday, some Saturday mornings. Please contact susan.jenkins@radiusmedical.co.nz or phone 06 834 2388.
 
GP Central Auckland
GP required (Female preferred) for busy, friendly and long established family practice in central Auckland.  2 - 3/10ths - long term. Please email Charles at coswas@xtra.co.nz or phone 09 625 5924.

GP – Invercargill long term
Waihopai Health Centre requires a long-term/permanent GP. We are a busy 4-doctor medical centre in Invercargill city. We have a great team and there is excellent support by staff. Remuneration is generous and is negotiable.  We pay travelling expenses, Medical Council and MPS fees and provide a free car and free, fully-furnished house. Waihopai Health Centre is fully computerised and has Cornerstone Accreditation. Enquiries to Dr Stanley Mulvany phone 03 211 0999 or email to eiger@xtra.co.nz

GP – Invercargill short term
Waihopai Health Centre requires a locum GP from the end of November for 2-3 months. We are a busy 4 doctor medical centre in Invercargill city. We have a great team and there is excellent support by staff. Remuneration is generous and is negotiable.  We pay travelling expenses, Medical Council and MPS fees and provide a free car and free fully furnished house. Waihopai Health Centre is fully computerised and has Cornerstone Accreditation. Enquiries to Dr Stanley Mulvany phone 03 211 0999 or email to eiger@xtra.co.nz

Clinical Head of Department - Kaitaia Hospital, Northland, New Zealand
Join our team and take the opportunity to help shape and support Kaitaia Hospital. We are looking for a motivated and experienced practitioner with proven leadership ability. The Clinical Head of Department will provide professional and administrative leadership with the aim to provide a high quality cost effective service to meet the Hospital, service and organisational objectives. We have created a warm, comfortable, manageable environment at Kaitaia Hospital and want you to share it with us. We are a fun loving team and strive for quality health care that is second to none. Vacancy No: MD09-012 Job Description and Official Application Form are available from, and should be returned to: Recruitment Officer, Northland District Health Board, Private Bag 9742, Whangarei 0148, New Zealand Tel: +64 9 430 4101 ext 3198 Email: jobs@northlanddhb.org.nz or visit our website at www.northlanddhb.org.nz

Clinical Head of Department - Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand
Join our team and take the opportunity to help shape and support Bay of Islands Hospital. We are looking for a motivated and experienced practitioner with proven leadership ability. The Clinical Head of Department will provide professional and administrative leadership with the aim to provide a high quality cost effective service to meet the Hospital, service and organisational objectives. The Bay of Islands Hospital is in Kawakawa, 1 hour north of Whangarei in the Bay of Islands. A warm climate, beautiful beaches and great fishing, diving and surfing is to be enjoyed. Vacancy No: MD09-011 Job Description and Official Application Form are available from, and should be returned to: Recruitment Officer, Northland District Health Board, Private Bag 9742, Whangarei 0148, New Zealand Tel: +64 9 430 4101 ext 3198 Email: jobs@northlanddhb.org.nz or visit our website at www.northlanddhb.org.nz

Associate Highland Park
Position now available in progressive 5 doctor Cornerstone accredited clinic, replacing 7/10 female doctor, friendly team, 3-7 tenths (i.e. 1-2 doctors depending on applicants) www.highlandpark.co.nz. Email Address: brett.hpmc@me.com Phone: 021 831 506 or 09 535 8095

GP – West Auckland
GP needed for GP/A&E practice (female preferred) - ACC and Cornerstone Accredited. Hours negotiable. Excellent remuneration. Well equipped, large modern practice with excellent collegial support and friendly staff.  Uses MedTech32. Please contact our practice manager on lyn.davis@wgmc.co.nz or phone 09-8333134. For more information see our website: www.wgmc.co.nz

GP Hamilton
There is an opportunity for GP to join a large and innovative practice to cover emergencies and overflow.  A friendly supportive team environment with a generous salaried position.  Starting December 2009 email: helen@hemc.co.nz Phone: 07 839 1232

Whai Oranga O Te Iwi Health Centre, Wainuiomata
Position available for an enthusiastic registered Medical Practitioner. We provide quality low-cost care to our community; we have a great team, and good remuneration.  If interested contact Keriana Kingi 04 564 6966 or 04 5643 101 email: keriana@whaioranga.org.nz, or check out our website http://www.whaioranga.org.nz.

GP - Dinsdale Medical Centre Hamilton
Full-time GP required for a cornerstone accredited, busy, suburban 2.5 FTE general practice. Excellent rates offered to right applicant, negotiable hours. Friendly supportive team. Contact Lance on 0274 909 939 or admin@dinsdalemed.co.nz for more information.

Click here to go to the College website for more vacancies.

Research

Can you help the Medical Council improve processes to assist international medical graduates to settle and practise in New Zealand?
The Medical Council has asked Sue Ineson of Karo Consultants to talk to some international medical graduates to find out more about their experiences, settling and working in New Zealand, so it can improve its resources, its website and can develop guidelines to help doctors settle into their new jobs, a new culture and into New Zealand.

Sue would like to organise a small meeting in Wellington for general practitioners who have come to New Zealand in the last two to three years to discuss their experiences when settling in New Zealand

If you are interested email or phone Sue for more information sue.ineson@karoconsulting.co.nz or telephone: on 06 364 2225 or 021 608 039. 

The Taiwan Family Medicine Research Award – Call for Applications
Two awards will be given to support two junior and emerging researchers to travel to Cancun, Mexico, to present their papers at the 19th Wonca World Conference from 19-23 May 2010.  The award is valued at US$1,500 per recipient.  Applications must be received at the World Secretariat in Singapore no later than 1 December 2009.  For more information, please visit www.Global.FamilyDoctor.com and email admin@wonca.com.sg

Wonca

Journal Watch:

• High-field MRI comparable with invasive post-mortem autopsy examination of human fetuses
• Rock climbing injuries
• Maternal decision re smoking during pregnancy associated with poor behavioural outcomes in children
• Public perceptions of threat of terrorist attack influences anticipated compliance behaviours

Clinical  Reviews:

•  Systemic lupus erythematosus update

CME

Workshops –Treatment options for NMSC, melanoma and dermascopy
Australasian College of Skin Cancer Medicine is providing two 2-day interactive workshops covering treatment options for NMSC, melanoma management and dermoscopy.  This will include practical sessions for delegates using pig trotters, introducing surgical techniques with simple flaps.  The workshops will be held in Perth on 17-18 October at the Holiday Inn Centre and Mackay 7-8 November (venue to be confirmed).  Further information is available from the ACSCM: admin@skincancercollege.com or www.skincancercollege.com

The Australasian Conference on Obesity
The Australasian Conference on Obesity is a one-day conference designed to provide medical and health professionals with practical insights into the various issues associated with obesity; from how it is caused to its impacts on people and society, to analysing ways to manage, prevent and treat it.

Join a diverse group of health professionals (including GPs, nurses, dieticians, nutritionists, clinicians, etc.), researchers, social workers and policy makers who are directly or indirectly involved with the overweight, obese and/or morbidly obese, to better understand the dynamics and intricacies of this growing global epidemic. For more information, please go to http://www.obesityconference2009.com/obesityconference2009/.

The Doctor-Patient Relationship: A Balint Weekend Workshop
A Balint weekend workshop will be held in Dunedin on 10 and 11 October, 2009. The workshop offers the opportunity for GPs and GP Registrars and other health professionals to experience a Balint group with a focus on the doctor-patient relationship. To register, please contact Cecile Pilkington at c.pilkington@auckland.ac.nz.  For more info, please go to http://www.goodfellowclub.org/LargeObjectViewer/Library/GFU_Homepage/News/Balint_Dunedin_October_09

A Communications Skills Refresher Course on Offer for Doctors Preparing for PRIMEX
A communications skills refresher course is offered for doctors preparing for PRIMEX. It will be run by Connect Communications facilitators (www.connectcomm.co.nz), using role plays with professional actors to simulate relevant exam cases. Connect Communications is a group of 4 doctors who have extensive experience both teaching and examining communications skills in the medical context. The format will be working in small groups with a facilitator and an actor for one 6 hour day. Details are provisionally as follows: Date - Sunday 1 November, venue- Central Auckland, cost - $400 inc GST per person. Payment of the full fee will confirm your place. Numbers will be limited. Contact - Dr Renske van den Brink by emailing renske@connectcomm.co.nz or phone 021 101 3224

Living in an Ageing Society – Shaping Tomorrow Today, Convention Centre, Wellington, 7-9 October 2009
Put on by the NZ Association of Gerontology and Age Concern NZ, the conference links research, policy and practice by a diverse programme that ranges over areas such as population ageing, health and resilience, elder care and cultural differences. It has been endorsed by the RNZCGP and has been approved for up to 15 hours (= 15 credits) CME for GP Education Programme Stage 2 (formerly AVE) and MOPS purposes. Contact: www.confer.co.nz/ageing2009

Aviation Medicine for Doctors
AMSANZ is holding a mini-conference at Auckland International Airport on Saturday 26 September.  Presentations will cover swine flu, pilot fatigue, colour vision testing, hypoxia and legal decisions concerning medical certification of pilots.  Dr Karen Willcox will talk about her experience with NASA's astronaut selection and training.  All sessions are to update doctors in the field of aviation medicine.  The conference has been endorsed by the RNZCGP for up to 3 hours CME.  Further information is available from Dr Graham Robinson grahamr@paradise.net.nz.

Managing Sexual Problems for Medical Practitioners
An evidence-based up-to-date online training programme specifically designed for GPs and approved by RNZCGP for 12 hours CME credits: download in writing to produce a surgery reference;  download in audio form to listen to as you travel to work and back.
Access all three forms for the same cost plus make the most of email access to ask tutor, Clinical Psychologist Robyn Salisbury, director of Sex Therapy NZ about your patients’ sexual dysfunctions. Enquiries: admin@sextherapy.co.nz or ph 0800 739843 (0800 sextherapy) or register on www.sextherapy.co.nz

Winter Escape Emergency Medicine Update - Terrace, BC.  March 15-19, 2010
A series of “Medical Myth Busters”, bedside sonography, and trauma surgery are highlights of this conference.  Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion, looking at "The Trauma Chain of Command: from the Scene to the OR", pending accreditation for the delivery of 21 Mainpro - M1 CME credits through the BC College of Family Physicians.  This four-day conference will be paired with daily powder-filled adventures. Emergency Physicians, Family Doctors and general practice will benefit in this stimulating CPD experience. Contact: www.tandtadventures.com or call +0011.1.888.308.3007 toll free - space is very limited.

Faculty of Pain Medicine, ANZCA ‘Duelling with Pain’ Meeting
The Faculty will hold its third Spring Meeting ‘Duelling with Pain’ at the Sofitel on Collins in Melbourne from 16 – 18 October 2009.  The program will be presented by various international and national speakers who will highlight the challenges we face in managing the spectrum of complex acute, chronic and cancer pain problems.  Program details and the registration brochure can be found on the website or contact Marta Dziedzicki, Meeting Secretariat for further information. This event has been approved by the College for up to 15 hours CME.

Intersections and Transitions – Royal Australasian College of Physicians Annual Scientific Meeting
The Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Australian & New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine and the Australian & New Zealand society of Palliative Medicine invite you to register for the 2009 RACP Combined Annual Scientific Meeting. For more information, please visit www.workz4uconferences.co.nz/racp

Smoking Cessation in Practice – E-learning tool
An e-learning tool for registered health workers is available online at: www.smokingcessationabc.org.nz. The tool introduces ABC, the new approach for managing people who smoke (as outlined in the New Zealand Smoking Cessation Guidelines), and contains practical information about giving brief advice and Nicotine Replacement Therapy.  The tool takes between 20 and 40 minutes to complete.  

Conferences

Expedition and Adventure Medicine! for Travel and Primary Healthcare Providers - 17-18 October, Auckland
WORLDWISE Online Level 2 Academic course heavily focused around Expedition and Adventure Medicine covering global travel, expeditions, Adventure and group travel from preparation to Post expedition and Yellow Fever. An exciting line up of industry professionals and experienced international speakers ensure this valuable course should not be missed by anyone interested in this field of medicine!!! Early Bird registrations available. For programme and registration details contact online@worldwise.co.nz or phone Clare on 09 52 5830.

Mental Health Law Conference – Five Cities & Five Dates in September
Buddle Findlay and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL) are pleased to present a full day Mental Health Law Conference in five centres across the country.  It is intended that the conference be used as a forum for inter-disciplinary discussion of key legal issues facing lawyers, clinicians and consumers working in mental health with a view to continuing to improve the way in which mental health services are provided in New Zealand.  To register for the conference, please complete and return the registration form with payment.
http://www.buddlefindlay.com/public/about/announcements.aspx?id=380

Network conference 2010
New Zealand’s premiere rural general practice conference – the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network conference - will be held in Christchurch next year at the city’s Convention Centre from March 11 – 14.  It’s worth noting that the weekend of the conference coincides with the Ellerslie Flower Show in the garden city on March 10-14. People wanting to register interest to present abstracts or wanting more information about abstracts should email Helen Shrewsbury at Conference Innovators: helen@conference.co.nz Anyone interested in sponsoring the conference or hosting an exhibition stand should contact the Network’s communications manager Rob Olsen either by phone 04 495 5887 or by email: rob@rgpn.org.nz

We are looking for someone to host a wine exhibition/tasting stand, a South Island-based winery would be ideal. Conference details such as workshops, presentations and general information will be posted on the Network’s and Conference Innovators’ websites during the next month.

University of Wollongong – Graduate School of Medicine Symposium - Assessing Advanced Learners in Medicine - Thursday 26–Friday 27 November 2009
This one and a half day symposium, hosted by the University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine will address two areas of increasing importance in the delivery of training programmes for senior medical students and postgraduate trainees: workplace-based assessment and the assessment of clinical reasoning. Professor Brian Jolly from Monash University will present an afternoon workshop on Thursday, Nov 26th on the assessment of medical students and trainees in the workplace. Professor Bernard Charlin from the University of Montreal will present a full day workshop on Friday, Nov 27th on the Script Concordance Test (SCT) approach to testing clinical reasoning skills. This symposium is oriented to all medical teaching faculty and is scheduled to immediately follow the IDEAL Consortium Experienced Items Writers’ Workshop held on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th November. Participants may register for either one or both days of this symposium and do not have to have attended the preceding IDEAL workshop to register for this symposium. Click here to download the registration form.

The Psychosocial Oncology Conference: PONZ-8: Surviving Cancer in Body, Mind, Spirit
November 26-28, 2009 Dunedin
The eighth Psychosocial Oncology NZ conference will be held in the Otago Museum, Dunedin.  The conference will again, following the success of the 2008 format, consist of a day of small interactive Workshops on Thursday 26 and two days of Keynote Speakers and proffered papers/posters on Friday and Saturday. Historically, delegates are from medical, nursing and allied health disciplines, from primary to palliative care and academic teaching and research. For more information and to register visit: http://www.ponz.org.nz/pages/conference.html

Evolving Communities Beyond Services, Building Bridges National Conference for Community Mental Health and Addictions 2010
Conference summary: Transcending barriers, cultures and differences in our approach to community mental health and addictions services.

Dates: 14 – 16 April 2010
Venue: Wellington Convention Centre, Wellington
Website: www.buildingbridges.co.nz

2009 National Immunisation Conference - From Science to Service Delivery
19-20 November 2009
Owen Glen Building, University of Auckland
COMING SOON: Call for abstracts, International speakers
Epidemiology of

• Vaccine Preventable Diseases
• Vaccine Coverage
   o Science and Research
   o Adverse Events Following Immunisation
   o Addressing the Issues
• Community
• Primary Care
• Population Planning

Info: p.harrington@auckland.ac.nz

International

19th Wonca World Conference of Family Doctors, Cancun, May 2010 - Apply for a Bursary to attend
For the first time in the history of the World Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca), a Latin American country will be the venue for the World Conference of Family Doctors: the Mexican College of Family Medicine is designated organizer of the 19th Wonca World Conference of Family Doctors, to be held in the city of Cancun, Mexico, from 19th to 23rd May 2010.

The Conference will spread the latest scientific and technological breakthroughs and will lead to the reflection on the technical and social role that Family Medicine must have to achieve the international goals that were proposed in the 2000 Millennium Summit: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For more information visit http://www.wonca2010cancun.com/

WONCA Europe has established a fund of US$30,000 to support up to 30 bursaries for the WONCA World Conference in Cancun, Mexico in May 2010. The bursaries will support Conference registration, accommodation and travel to a maximum of US$1,000 per person. Applications are open to College Fellows and GPEP participants and need to be supported by the RNZCGP in order to be considered. The College will forward selected applications to the WONCA Europe Executive for its decision. Successful applicants will be required to submit a short report of their attendance at the Conference. Application Forms can be requested by email from: Polona Miselj polona.miselj@zrdm-idfm.si and should be submitted to the College by 1 November 2009.

WINFOCUS 2009 congress
5th World Congress on Ultrasound in Emergency and critical care medicine, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 4-6 September 2009. The congress program will feature high quality presentations, extensive networking opportunities and workshops in aspects of critical care and emergency point of care clinician ultrasound. Website: http://www.winfocus2009.org

The 2nd International Conference on Fixed Combination in the Treatment of Hypertension, Dyslipidemia and Diabetes Mellitus
Valencia, Spain, 10-12 December 2009. Website: www.paragon-conventions.com/fixed09