Newsletters & General

Please see attached HNZ Cyber-Panui April 2026

Our latest selection of CPD options for you:  Roadside testing, and Advance Care Planning WEBINAR 28 April: Join Anna Skinner on how the newly introduced roadside drug testing process works, and Jane Goodwin on how ACP supports meaningful conversations about values and preferences.  Register here   High-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) WEBINAR 12 May: Rajan Patel discusses the importance of early detection and timely management of high-risk cSCC.  Register here  

Kia ora koutou   Thanks for your ongoing engagement on the Ministry’s targeted review of the Cremation Regulations 1973.   I am getting in touch to let you know that the Cremation Amendment Regulations 2026 have been finalised and will take effect from 7 May 2026 .  You can find information on our website here:   https://www.health.govt.nz/news/updated-cremation-rules-to-reduce-delays-for-families   https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/burial-and-cremation Furthe

Alopecia isn’t just cosmetic - it can be a marker of underlying disease and has meaningful emotional and quality-of-life consequences. In her session at our Dermatology Update on Saturday May 16, Consultant Dermatologist Cristina Mello, offers a practical, pattern-based approach to identifying common alopecia types, recognising red flags, initiating management, and knowing when to refer, with guidance on prognosis and patient counselling.  Register now to secure your spot! 

Prior studies have suggested aspirin lowers long-term cancer risk, especially colorectal cancer, but the ASPREE trial (Australia & US-based) in older adults found no reduction in cancer incidence and an unexpected rise in late-stage cancers and cancer mortality 1 . This study examined 10-year outcomes in more than 19,000 adults aged 70 and older from ASPREE and its observational extension.  Participants received either low-dose aspirin (100mg) or a placebo.  Over a median o

Please see attached: Recent amendments to the Guidance for registered nurse prescribers

I hope you were all able to take a moment to rest and recharge over the long weekend. The start of the year has been a busy one, and I want to acknowledge the work you do every day to support people, families, whānau and communities, and the impact it can have on your own wellbeing.   Today marks an important milestone. We have launched public consultation on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy – a ten-year plan to guide our collective efforts to improve mental hea

Our latest webinars and podcast for you:  Whole of life protection: A focus on adult vaccination WEBINAR 14 April: Nikki Turner on the importance of adult immunisation as part of comprehensive preventive care in primary practice.  Register here   Redefining insomnia management WEBINAR 21 April: David Cunnington, a specialist sleep physician, will review contemporary insomnia management, including CBT-I, and discuss the role of medications, including lemborexant, a newer agent

This RCT 1  enrolled 437 secondary care patients aged ≥65 years (mean 75) with CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores ≥2 in men and ≥3 in women. Participants were assigned to 6-month (180-day) monitoring, using an Apple smartwatch with photoplethysmography and single-lead ECG functions, or to standard care.  Over 6 months, atrial fibrillation (AF) was detected in 21 patients (9.6%) in the intervention group versus 5 (2.3%) in controls. Several asymptomatic AF episodes were identified only in th

Enhance your Dermatology Expertise: Join Our Online Session on Saturday, 16 May. Skin conditions are among the most frequent presentations in primary care. This 4-hour webinar brings together top New Zealand dermatology specialists to help you navigate these complexities with confidence. What to expect: Expert-led, primary care–focused updates on recognising and managing common dermatology presentations seen in everyday practice. Practical guidance on diagnosing and treating

Our latest webinars and podcasts for you:  Whole of life protection: A focus on adult vaccination WEBINAR 14 April: Nikki Turner on the importance of adult immunisation as part of comprehensive preventive care in primary practice.  Register here   Redefining insomnia management WEBINAR 21 April: David Cunnington, a specialist sleep physician, will review contemporary insomnia management, including CBT-I, and discuss the role of medications, including lemborexant, a newer agen

Please see attached latest Research Review

The benefit of beta‑blockers after myocardial infarction in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) is uncertain. This individual‑patient meta‑analysis combined five open‑label randomised trials, including 17,801 patients without other indications for beta-blockers 1 .  Participants were assigned to beta‑blocker therapy or no therapy, and the primary outcome was a composite of all‑cause death, myocardial infarction, or heart failure. After a med

Hurry and secure your place this weekend We invite all primary care professionals to New Zealand’s premier professional development event for general practice and primary care. Event Overview: 📅 March 2026 21-22 Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau Programme highlights : Hear from leading experts and our partners the Royal NZ College of GPs, the Royal NZ College of Urgent Care, and Allevia Hospitals - with a line-up that blends essential updates, fresh perspectives, and practice-

The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) set the minimum quality standard that medicinal cannabis products and ingredients must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Importers, manufacturers, and suppliers must apply for assessment and provide evidence to the Medicinal Cannabis Agency to verify that their products meet the minimum quality standard. Beacon Medical GSC THC20 CBD≤1 has been verified as meeting the minimum quality sta

Dear Andrea, NEXT WEEK!  Goodfellow Symposium 2026 And while we wait, here are our latest webinars and podcasts:    Functional gastrointestinal conundrums: Utilising the MDT WEBINAR 17 March: The team from Allevia Hospitals will distil key practical tips and demonstrate how a team-based, multidisciplinary approach can help clinicians manage common GI conundrums more effectively.    Register here   Adult ADHD in practice: A clinical Q&A  WEBINAR 19 March: Join David Codyre for

Please see Research Review edition attached

Please see Research Review edition attached

Kia ora   The March 2026 edition of Prescriber Update  is now available on the Medsafe website. Please can you share it with your networks.   Kind regards   Medsafe Pharmacovigilance Team

Issue 337 - 5 March 2026 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz . Article Access For articles that aren't