What's New 2025

Current Topic

Change

Immunisation

• Sentence added to include reporting on incidents not related to adverse reactions (for example, incorrect timing or vaccine double-up).

Patient Portal*

• Section added, with link to RNZCGP guidance covering portal access for children/young people.

* Optional page: If the link isn't working you may not have the page on your site.

Enrolment

• Section and links added to cover Newborn Enrolment requirements.

Current Topic

Change

Care Planning

• Page renamed from Care Plans.
• Policy edited for clarity and to incorporate aspects of patient-centred, continuity of care.
• North Island practices will continue to use a version that doesn't refer to HealthOne.

IT Security

• Link to IT checklist updated to go point to a new version, released by RNZCGP.

Medicine Reconciliation

• Timeframes updated to align with recent RNZCGP Foundation updates: medicine reconciliation timeframe changed from within 2-3 days to within 7 days, and auditing at least annually.

Current Topic

Change

Continuing Professional Development

• Page edited to draw clearer distinctions between CPD and CME.
• Section on gaining credentials moved to third page from Credentialling.

Credentialling

• Page edited for clarity and readability.
• Practising certificates added as a section – was previously a separate page.
• Information on gaining additional credits moved into the Draft Professional Development page.

Performance Reviews

• Page edited for clarity and readability.

Patient Experience

• Policy updated to reflect that feedback helps understanding of patient experiences and is part of identifying inequities or barriers to service.
• New section on clinical governance reflecting how feedback can be used to drive quality improvement initiatives.

Hazardous substances

• Updated to align with recent updates from RNZCGP, indicator 13.2.
• Practices should create one inventory using the WorkSafe hazardous substances calculator, and another listing any other hazardous substances held at the practice. Both inventories need to be added to the hazard and risks register, and be accessible to emergency services.

Current Topic

Change

Shared Electronic Health Record

(South Island practices only)

• Page edited to improve clarity and readability.

Evacuation

• Note added indicating that records of trials and debriefs for the previous 18 months are retained, as this is now a Foundation requirement.
• Link to relevant information and resources on new FENZ website updated.

Repeat Prescriptions

• Note added to audit section, reflecting the RNZCGP guidance that if an audit reveals instances where the policy and procedures are not being adhered to, improvements actions should carried out, followed by and another audit.

Clinical Governance

• A note added following updated advice from RNZCGP.
• HQSC have updated their high-level clinical governance framework but RNZCGP advise that general practices should continue to use the 2017 guidelines while they work with HQSC on a transition to the 2024 guidance.