Monday Pānui 14 September 2026

In Today’s Pānui	CVD Management Bicillin Cyber Security
CVD Management	Removal of Auckland PHO’s CVD Management Form and next steps for CVD management – an Auckland PHO quality improvement initiative The Mōhio CVD Management Form is no longer available in Te Pōkapū. Following review by the Auckland PHO clinical team, we found that the form was not widely used by practices and when it was used, could be time consuming to complete. Auckland PHO will instead be introducing a new CVD management quality improvement approach, focused on supporting appropriate evidence-based management for people at increased cardiovascular risk and those with established cardiovascular disease or a previous cardiovascular event. This will include supporting practices to identify patients who may benefit from review or optimisation of preventive treatment, including appropriate use of dual and triple therapy, as well as improving the recording of valid treatment exemptions, where recommended treatment has been considered and discussed with the patient but is contraindicated, not tolerated or declined. Recording treatment exemptions is an important part of this work. It provides important clinical context, helps clinicians manage their follow-up lists and supports reassessment or revisiting treatment discussions where appropriate, for example, where a patient has previously declined treatment. Further information, including guidance on the new approach and how treatment exemptions should be recorded, will be provided to practices over the coming months. Practices will also be reimbursed for this work. Watch this space!
2. Bicillin	Bicillin weekly stock update Updated weekly modelling shows that Bicillin stock levels are holding due to increased demand for Benzetacil in the last two weeks. Stock levels remain tight, with wholesaler stock levels projected to run out on 7 November if we reduce Bicillin use to only children 13 and under. Please continue to ensure that all patients over 13 are transitioned to Benzetacil.
3. Cyber Security	We have been made aware of a cyber incident involving Zenith Technology (ZenTech) - a privately owned and operated Dunedin-based contract research organisation. Our systems are not impacted by ZenTech’s cyber incident, and we continue to operate as normal. ZenTech is contacting those who have been impacted by the incident. If you receive any media queries regarding this incident, you can direct them to contact Health NZ (media@healthnz.govt.nz).

Barbara Stevens | Tumu Whakarae / CEO