Monday Pānui 03 August 2026

In today’s Pānui 03 August 2026	Cyber Risk e-Learning Measles: Preparedness and MMR Immunity Check New Priority Criteria for Bicillin Treatment – Rheumatic Fever Nominations for Practice Manager of the Year Award Webinar – Why does it still hurt? Supporting pain self-management in clinical Practice
Cyber Risk e-Learning	Thanks to the Practices that have let us know they have completed their Cyber Risk e-Learning module.  See last week’s Pānui for more details on why it’s important. About the training One of the ten standards focuses on Risk Management, requiring every practice to nominate a person responsible for overseeing cyber risk. Completing this training helps meet that requirement by equipping your Cyber Risk Lead to: Understand common cyber security risks. Apply a practical risk management framework. Assess risk tolerance and identify appropriate mitigation strategies. Document cyber risks and escalate them to practice managers or partners where appropriate. The Cyber Risk for General Practices/Primary Health Organisation Users course is available through Ko Awatea LEARN for practices in the Northern Region. It consists of three short modules covering: Understanding cyber risk Applying a risk management framework Risk tolerance and mitigation The learning content takes approximately 15 minutes, although allowing up to 45 minutes will enable participants to complete the course and supporting activities thoroughly. Funding Available A payment of $150 + GST is available for one completed course per practice, effective immediately. Additional team members are encouraged to complete the training to build broader cyber security awareness within the practice; however, funding is limited to one participant per practice. How to Complete and Claim Nominate your Cyber Risk Lead. Practices can determine who is best suited to this role. Complete the Cyber Risk for Primary Health Organisation Users course on Ko Awatea LEARN (you may need to create an account if you do not already have one). Download your verified Record of Learning. Email the Record of Learning to info@aucklandpho.co.nz to receive your $150 payment. If you have any questions, contact barbara@aucklandpho.co.nz
Measles: Preparedness and MMR Immunity Check	With the recent positive measles case in Palmerston North, now is a timely reminder for all practice staff to ensure their MMR vaccination status is recorded in the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR). If you are unsure of your recorded vaccination history, or do not yet have AIR access, please let us know and we can help have this checked for you. Health NZ guidance emphasises that healthcare workers should have 2 documented doses of MMR vaccine (or other evidence of immunity) recorded and readily available. Maintaining accurate immunisation records helps protect both staff and patients and supports business continuity during a measles response. Please also be aware that, under healthcare exposure management protocols, if a measles exposure occurs within your practice and you cannot provide evidence of 2 documented MMR doses or immunity, you may be classified as susceptible and could be required to be excluded from work for the exposure quarantine period, which may be up to 21 days following the last exposure. This can have a significant impact on both staffing and service delivery. For further information on measles assessment, testing, isolation requirements, and management, please refer to the Auckland PHO Measles Playbook and local Auckland Health Pathways guidance. Staying prepared now will help ensure a smooth and safe response should a suspected or confirmed case present within your practice. Key Points Positive Case in Palmerston North - A confirmed measles case has recently been identified in Palmerston North, highlighting the ongoing risk of measles transmission within New Zealand. Practices are encouraged to remain vigilant, review their measles response processes, and ensure staff are familiar with case identification, isolation, notification, and testing requirements. Update your Practice vaccine register - Now is an ideal time to review and update your practice staff vaccine register. Ensure all staff have documented evidence of immunity, including two recorded MMR doses in AIR where applicable. Having accurate and readily accessible records will support a timely response to any measles exposure event and help minimise potential staff stand-down periods. Public Health Advisory 30 July: One new measles cases confirmed in the Manawatū Region Auckland PHO Measles Playbook – 3 August
New Priority Criteria for Bicillin Treatment – Rheumatic Fever	Please refer to the latest update from Health New Zealand regarding who should be prioritised for Bicillin instead of the alternative formulation Benzetacil. Update on the prioritisation criteria for Bicillin L-A - 30 July
Nominations for Practice Manager of the Year Award	Nominations are now open for the PMAANZ Practice Management of the Year award – so if you’ve got an awesome Practice Manager or Practice Administrator then now is the perfect opportunity to celebrate them. Nominating someone is quick and easy. Find out more here. But get in fast – nominations close on Sunday 16 August.
Webinar – Why does it still hurt? Supporting pain self-management in clinical practice	Why does it still hurt? Supporting pain self-management in clinical practice Webinar: Wednesday 26 August I 7.00 – 8.00pm Find out more and register here

Barbara Stevens | Tumu Whakarae / CEO