Tēnā koutou Auckland PHO Teams
Firstly, we would like to welcome Dr Donna Lahood and the team from Elstree Ave Family Doctors based in Glen Innes to our general practice network and the new owners of Aotea Health, Aotea/Great Barrier Island, Tania and Darcy Kemp. It’s great to have you on board, and we look forward to working with you.
Funding Boost and Launch Date for HPV Primary Screening
Te Whatu Ora have announced $7.3 million in funding to provide free cervical screening services for key groups as part of the move to the new HPV test.
Those who will be eligible for free cervical screening include women and people with a cervix who are unscreened (have never had a screening test), under screened (haven’t had a test in the past 5 years), at higher risk requiring surveillance/follow up, Māori, Pacific, and anyone who is a community service card holder. This includes those populations that are at a higher risk of cervical cancer.
The new eligibility for free screening and new HPV cervical screening test will roll out from September 12, replacing the previously announced date of July 26.
Providing free HPV cervical screening tests will play a critical role in helping more people to access the programme and detect cancer earlier.
The new HPV cervical screening test will be much easier to use and will identify more pre-cancers. This will prevent more cases of cervical cancer, supported by the speculum and colposcopy tests.
The new HPV test means that people will have three options for having a cervical screening test:
Self-swabbing
healthcare provider swab
cervical smear
The revised launch date will enable time for Te Whatu Ora and partners to prepare to offer the free screening, as well as further test the new information technology system that will support the screening programme.
The delay in the launch date will not affect the overall delivery timeframe for the new HPV screening programme, which will be completed by the end of March 2024.
Further information will be provided when available.
If you have any queries, please contact HPVScreen@health.govt.nz
School of Nursing Lecture
Honorary Professor Jenny Carryer is holding a lecture ‘Reimagining nursing through a feminist lens at the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Lecture Theatre 505-007 on Tuesday July 11, 2023, at 4.00pm-6.00pm.
Register at https://ReimaginingNursing.eventbrite.co.nz to attend and find out more about the lecture.
Practice Fees Increase
Non VLCA Practices have been issued with fee increase templates with which they can work out patient fee increases for the year. We recommend that practices increase their fees each year so that the increase is small and incremental rather than a hefty increase every few years.
If you would like to discuss further, please contact Ashley@aucklandpho.co.nz
VLCA Practices have also been sent information regarding capitation increases. A reminder that fees need to be no more than $19.50 for 17+ years and $13.00 for 14 – 17 years.
Enjoy Matariki and Friday!
Ngā mihi nui
Barbara Stevens |Tumu Whakarae/CEO