Toitū te Oranga: Practice Support Pānui

Nau mai, haere mai - welcome to Toitu te Oranga.

This e-pānui brings you the latest clinical updates, practical tools, and news from across our PHO network. Our aim is simple: to keep you informed, supported, and connected so your teams can continue delivering the best care for whānau.

The Practice Support Team is here to help in any way we can. Our kaimahi bring a range of expertise, including former practice nurses, a nurse prescriber, data analysis, practice management and administration, and quality assurance (including Cornerstone).

We also work closely with other HPHO services, such as Breast & Cervical Screening and Outreach Immunisation, and we’ll be profiling these teams in upcoming editions of the e-pānui.

Ngā mihi,

- the Practice Support Team

In this pānui you will find the following:

He Karere (Recent Updates)
Tai Hauora (Clinical Round Up)
Tai Pūkenga (Education, Training & Events)
Pae Hono (Helpful Links)

Offering COVID-19 Vaccinations in General Practice is about to get easier

From 2 March 2026, New Zealand transitions to the LP.8.1 COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 12 years and over. This vaccine is supplied as a single-dose glass prefilled syringe that can be stored alongside other routine vaccines. There is no dilution or vial draw-up required. Please see here for answers to helpful FAQs about getting started offering covid in your clinic.

12-month prescriptions – Special Authority (SA) reminders

Check that any SA approvals cover the full length of the prescription — especially for prescriptions over three months. You can renew an SA up to six months before it expires. If dispensing starts before the SA expires, up to three months' supply will be funded, even if repeats are collected after expiry. Any supply beyond that requires a new SA.

Post vaccination Wait Time reduced in some circumstances

Standard post-vaccination wait time is 15 minutes across all vaccines in Aotearoa New Zealand. Wait times can be increased on an individual basis as deemed appropriate by the vaccinator OR reduced to 5 minutes, when specific criteria are met.

Addendum to the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cervical Screening (Feb 2026)

Key areas to be aware of in this update:

Follow-up after treatment for HSIL – Test of Cure (HPV-based) can now often be completed in primary care, including for some people with positive margins.

AIS (adenocarcinoma in situ) – where margins are clear, follow-up (co-test at 6 and 18 months) can occur in the community.

Immunosuppression and screening intervals – clearer guidance on who requires 3-yearly screening and who does not.

Screening after cervical cancer or hysterectomy – clarification on when people return to routine screening and when management is clinical rather than Register-led.

These updates support keeping care closer to home where safe to do so, and help reduce unnecessary specialist follow-up.

If you’re unsure about a person’s pathway, Register status, or screening interval, please escalate early — we’re happy to support.

Authorised Vaccinator renewal of certificate

Health NZ portal to be used from 11/02 Workforce Requests Portal  

Annie Schenkel (annie.schenkel@haurakipho.org.nz) has used this portal and is available to provide guidance to any authorised vaccinator who is updating their two yearly certificate