Go to home page - Ministry of HealthWhats New - Ministry of HealthPublications - Ministry of HealthForums - Ministry of HealthLinks - Ministry of HealthContact - Ministry of HealthAbout - Ministry of HealthSearch - Ministry of HealthSkip Navigation
Print this  Email this

Primary Health Care

News

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

2008


Working Together for Better Primary Health Care: Overcoming barriers to workforce change and innovation(3 September)
Report of the Workforce Taskforce on overcoming barriers to workforce change and innovation in primary health care.

New Zealand Primary Health Care e-Register update (1 September)
This e-Register has been updated with more projects from Manaia Health PHO.
PHO Eligibility Process Guidelines (1 July)
This information pack outlines the process for DHBs and the Ministry for approving/endorsing and logging changes to PHO funding eligibilities. The process was introduced on 1st July 2008 and provides a central audit trail for each PHO eligibility change.
New Zealand Primary Health Care e-Register update (6 June)
This e-Register has been updated with more projects from Partnership Health Canterbury Te Kei o Te Waka PHO.
Capitation Based Funding (CBF) Systems Support Information (15 Mar)
Information on who to contact for support and frequently asked questions on the Capitation Enrolment and Register Handling Guidelines is now available.
Intersectoral Community Action for Health (ICAH) Evaluation: An Overview (18 Mar)
In 2001 the Ministry of Health funded four ICAH groups (in Northland, Counties Manukau, Otaki and Porirua) to develop different ways of bringing together community and health sector organisations to improve the health status of Māori, Pacific and Quintile 5 people living in those areas.

New Zealand Primary Health Care e-Register (22 Feb)
This e-Register has been created to foster the sharing of information and showcasing of ideas and initiatives within the primary health care sector, particularly those which help to progress the vision of the Primary Health Care Strategy.

2007


Primary Health Care at Work (7 Nov)
View stories about Primary Health Care at work in the community in the Your Choices...Your Health section.


Get Checked programme system upgrades (7 Nov)
View questions and answers on the Get Checked programme system upgrades scheduled for 1 December 2007 in the Diabetes section.


Primary Health Care Strategy Innovations Fund (16 Oct)
A Primary Health Care Strategy (PHCS) Innovations Fund has been established to support the spread of innovation throughout the primary health care sector.

Invitations to apply for the first round of funding are now open.

View more information on the Primary Health Care Strategy Innovations Fund


Your Choices..Your Health (5 Oct)
Information on what you can expect to pay when you visit your general practice, how you can access and choose healthcare services and how you can be involved in the care of yourself and your family.

PHO Governance Guide (1 Oct)
This guide is a a resource that clarifies the purpose and expectations of PHOs, the principles of good governance and the roles and responsibilities of board members.

Zero Fees for Under 6s (1 Oct)
An additional payment will be available from 1 January 2008 to practices that commit each quarter to providing free standard consultations to children under six. It is a voluntary opt on (and opt off) scheme similar to the Very Low Cost Access initiative.

Very Low Cost Access Payments (1 Oct)
The very low cost access payment comprises an individual practice component and a whole of PHO component.
  • From 1 October 2007 the individual practice component comprises a 20 percent increase on First Contact capitation at non High Use Health Card rates only for each PHO practice that meets the very low fee threshold.
  • The whole of PHO component comprises a 20 percent increase on Services to Improve Access funding for PHOs where all their practices meet the very low cost access payment so long as its use is related to implementing the Primary Health Care Strategy including reducing health inequalities, and subject to DHB approval for transparency and accountability purposes.

View more information on Very Low Cost Access Payments


Evaluation of Primary Health Care Nursing Innovations (28 Sep)
Evaluation report on 11 nursing innovations supporting the development of new models of primary care nursing practice and fostering nurse leadership funded by the Ministry of Health from January 2004 to mid-2006.

Interim report finds Primary Health Care Strategy achieving its objectives (27 Sep)
The Ministry of Health describes the interim report on the evaluation of the Primary Health Care Strategy as a useful reflection of the preliminary phase of implementing the strategy.

The report shows greater use of GP services including those groups who infrequently visited primary health care services.

PHO Enrolment Demographics (10 Jul)
View the latest PHO Enrolment Demographics (as at July 2007)


Changes to funding from July 1 (2 Jul)
On 1 July 2007 the increased Primary Health Care Strategy funding for 25 to 44 year olds will be rolled out to PHOs so that this cohort gets reduced general practice fees and $3 pharmaceutical co-payments. Also on 1 July 2007, PHOs will receive the annual funding adjustment to the existing Primary Health Care Strategy funding streams (including Very Low Cost Access) that they receive for their enrolled population. The Ministry's letter to DHBs sets out the terms and conditions for access to the 25 to 44 year olds funding and it also includes the annual adjustments. The prescription notice provides for the increase in Very Low Cost Access funding.
View more information on the funding roll out in the Funding section.


Primary Workings - Issue 3 (12 Jun)
The latest issue of the Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme newsletter is now available.

PHO Governance Guide (May)
The Ministry, with the assistance of a sector advisory group, has drafted a PHO Governance Guide and would like your feedback. The final date for feedback is Friday 8 June 2007.

Primary Health Care Strategy: Key Directions for the Information Environment - Policy Consultation Document (Apr)
Primary Health Care Strategy: Key Directions for the Information Environment is a policy consultation document that facilitates consultation on a proposal to create an information environment that helps achieve the Primary Health Care Strategy goals. Submissions closed Friday 1 June 2007.


Conferences (Apr)
Information on two upcoming conferences, Collaborative solutions for community outcomes at your place (11 May) and Workforce Action: Ready for the Future (28 - 29 June), have been added.

Primary Health Care Strategy & PHO Development Task Force (Apr)
The summary of the meeting on 24 January 2007 is now available.

Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Group (PHIG) Meeting Notes and Actions (Feb)
The notes and actions from the latest PHIG meeting are now available.

2006


Primary Workings Issue 2 (Dec)
The latest issue of the Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme newsletter is now available.

Connecting Voices Workshop - 21 November 2006 (Nov)
Materials from the workshop are now available including the agenda, the Minister's speech and presentations from some of the "voices".

Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Group (PHIG) Meeting Notes and Actions (Nov)
The notes and actions from the latest PHIG meeting are now available.

Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Funding Formulae Review (Oct)
At the time the PHO funding formulae were implemented the Ministry of Health committed to reviewing them within three to five years to assess how well they were working in light of actual PHO experience. We are now doing that in partnership with DHBs. In addition, those working within the primary health care sector have expressed a range of concerns with the formulae.
Submissions closed: Monday 6 November 2006

New Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme section (Oct)
A new section focusing on work on the next phase of the implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy has been added to this site. The section currently contains an overview of the work programme, a monthly newsletter and information on the Primary Health Care Implementation Group (PHIG). In the near future there will be information on the associated workstreams.


Supporting very low cost access to primary health care (Sep)
A very low cost access payment for Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) and their practices that meet and maintain very low fees will be introduced from 1 October 2006. View the Minister's media release - $43 million invested in high need practices More information is provided in the factsheet below:

Primary Health Care Strategy and PHO Development Taskforce Meeting (Jul)
A summary of the meeting held on 13 July 2006 is now available.

Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme - 2006 to 2010 - The Next Steps (Jul)
This next steps document outlines the developments that will occur in the primary health sector over the next few years.

Primary health money rolled out to 45 to 64-year olds (Jul)
From 1 July 2006, all 45 to 64 year olds enrolled in a Primary Health Organisation (PHO) will be eligible for lower cost visits to the doctor and lower standard prescription charges as part of the continued rollout of the Primary Health Care Strategy.

Further information on the Funding Rollout for 45-64 year olds is on the District Health Board New Zealand website.

Launched in February 2001 by the Minister of Health, Annette King, the Primary Health Care Strategy provides a clear direction for ensuring that primary health care services play a central role in improving the health of New Zealanders.

The Primary Health Care Strategy builds on the population health focus and the objectives of the New Zealand Health Strategy and the New Zealand Disability Strategy, and outlines how a different approach to primary health care will improve the health of all New Zealanders through:
  • A greater emphasis on population health, health promotion and preventative care
  • Community involvement
  • Involving a range of professionals and encouraging multidisciplinary approaches to decision making
  • Improving accessibility, affordability and appropriateness of services
  • Improving co-ordination and continuity of care
  • Providing and funding services according to the population’s needs as opposed to fee for services when people are unwell.

2005


PHO Yearbook 2004 (Dec)
This first PHO Yearbook documents the progress of the 42 PHOs that were established for the full year 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, and provided an annual report. The aim of the Yearbook is to recognise and record the health services and activities that PHOs are developing under the Primary Health Care Strategy.

New Zealand Intersectoral Initiatives for Improving the Health of Local Communities 2005 (Dec)
This literature review covers new research and other relevant literature on the design and implementation of intersectoral initiatives for improving the health of local communities.

Primary health care nursing scholarships - study in 2006 (Dec)
Applications are now invited for New Zealand registered nurses wishing to apply for scholarships for post graduate study specialising in primary health care in the first semester of the 2006 academic year.

Towards Accessible, Effective and Resilient After Hours Primary Health Care Services (Sep)
Report of the After Hours Primary Health Care Working Party

Pandemic influenza (Sep)
Information for the health sector is now available on the Ministry's Pandemic Influenza section. See also the Latest updates section for the latest additions to the site.


Nurse Practitioners (Sep)
The Medicines (Designated Prescriber: Nurse Practitioner) Regulations 2005 and the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2005 aim to give patients greater access to a comprehensive health service.

These regulations come into force on 1 November 2005.

They authorise nurse practitioners registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand to prescribe a range of prescription medicines and controled substances if the nurse practitioners meet certain requirements relating to competence, qualifications, and training. The details of most of those requirements will be specified by the Council by notice in the Gazette.

Nurse practitioners who do not meet those requirements:
  • Must not prescribe prescription medicines; and
  • Commit an offence if they do.


Evolving Models of Primary Health Care Nursing Practice (Aug)
The Primary Health Care Strategy identifies an increased need for primary health care nurses, with a move towards greater population focus and emphasis on a wider range of services. This publication highlights and showcases eight models of primary health care nursing in New Zealand that are emerging as a response.

Primarily, Issue 15, July 2005 (Jul)
The latest issue of Primarily newsletter is now available.

PHO Performance Management Programme - information for PHOs (Jul)
This page links to the District Health Boards New Zealand (DHBNZ) website where the background and purpose of the PHO Performance Management Programme is explained along with pre-requisites to participation in the Programme, the funding available, the indicators against which PHOs will be measured and the reporting which will be provided to PHOs, DHBs and the Ministry.

PHOs now eligible for additional management services assistance (Jul)
PHOs with enrolled populations of 40,000 or fewer will be eligible receive a share of $3 million worth of new funding from this month onwards.
Page last updated: 6 June 2008


Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About Us | Access Keys | Feedback | Contact Us | Employment | newzealand.govt.nz