President's Annual Report

President’s Annual Report 2024

10 October 2024
8.73 Min Read
By NZSAwebadmin
President’s Annual Report 2024Main Image

Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa,

Before I reflect on the year that has been, I wish to thank each member for your continued support of the Society. We are stronger together. Your support is what enables the NZSA to continue to represent our anaesthesia community.

This report is a summary of the past year focussing on our three pillars: Advocacy, Community, and Education. There is always more, and I encourage you to remain connected through the NZSA’s communication channels.

Advocacy

It’s imperative we advocate for our profession. Increased visibility will not only enhance appreciation for the specialised skills and expertise of anaesthesia specialists but it will also reinforce the need for future-proofing our specialist workforce in Aotearoa.

Advocacy over the past 12 months has included meeting with the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Shane Reti. Our Briefing for the Minister outlines the topics we broadly covered including the pivotal role anaesthesia plays in the perioperative process and the valuable role we can offer in addressing elective care waitlists. We also expressed the importance of valuing our workforce. A summary of the meeting was shared on the website.

The NZSA also wrote to the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Shane Reti, and was a signatory of Health Coalition Aotearoa’s open letter to the incoming government in December 2023, urging the government to reconsider its position on the repeal of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Act.

Representatives from the NZSA have been involved in several consultations and discussions. Including attending Pharmac’s medical devices hui and a follow-up meeting to discuss ways the NZSA and its members can provide input and feedback from an anaesthesia perspective; and meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora to engage in an important dialogue regarding the repealed Therapeutic Products Act (TPA).

Across the year the NZSA has fostered connections with a number of stakeholders to strengthen our relationships and utilise opportunities to work together. These have included: the New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians’ Society, Interplast, and the Medical Sciences Council. As well as the NZ Orthopaedic Association to discuss their work with trainees in private practice.

Submissions

The NZSA has entered submissions and feedback on a number of consultations over the past year that have potential impacts on our specialty. These were:

A copy of all submissions completed by the NZSA is available to read on the NZSA website.

We would like to thank members for sharing your insight to assist with the Society’s response to the NZ Royal Commission COVID-19 Lessons Learned inquiry and the Medical Sciences Council’s consultation on the anaesthetic technician proposed Scope of Practice and Competency Standards. Your thoughts shared through interviews and surveys helped shape these submissions.

The NZSA’s response to the Medical Sciences Council’s consultation supported the effort made to make the anaesthetic technician Scope and Competency Standards more contemporary, reflective of the shift to a graduate programme, and the move to define clear behavioural standards in cultural safety and awareness. Alongside suggestions to address our concerns with the Scope of Practice no longer excluding the prescribing and/or administering of anaesthesia/sedation, the importance of including clear reference to and alignment of anaesthetic technician competencies with ANZCA’s PS08, and specifically including reference to the role of anaesthetic technicians in assisting anaesthetists.

Community

Our networks continue to provide a strong connection for our community across the motu. I wish to thank the network chairs and members for their valuable contributions to these sub-specialty and special interest groups.

We are fortunate to hold a close relationship with the ANZCA NZ National Committee. Our annual joint meeting and joint sub-committee, Aotearoa NZ Anaesthesia Education Committee (ANZAEC), allow us to collaborate and bring focus on shared topics across our Aotearoa anaesthesia community.

International community

Myself and NZSA CEO, Kylie McQuellin, appreciated the opportunity to attend ANZCA’s ASM in May, the Pacific Society of Anaesthetists’ meeting in August, and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists NSC in October.

I was also fortunate to attend the WFSA’s World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) in Singapore in March. During the congress, Aotearoa’s own, Associate Professor Wayne Morriss completed his term as WFSA President. On behalf of the NZSA, thank you Wayne. We are incredibly grateful for the immense mahi you have put in for the global anaesthesiology community and for putting Aotearoa Anaesthetists on the global stage.

Following the WCA the Common Issues Group (CIG) met for continued discussions over common themes across our six countries (Australia, USA, Canada, UK, South Africa and New Zealand). These included: encouraging, supporting and growing membership; wellbeing of members and burnout; the role of assistants to the anaesthetists across our various jurisdictions and how this is changing, and our various political landscapes and their impact on healthcare and anaesthesia.

We remain well connected to our international community through these relationships.

Support in the Pacific

The Pacific Anaesthesia Collaborative Training (PACT) programme is currently supporting five Fellows from Fiji, Vanuatu, and Samoa. PACT has celebrated the graduation of its inaugural fellow, Dr Cecilia Vaai-Bartley, in December 2023, and Dr Sweta Mudaliar completing all of the requirements of her Masters in Anaesthesia in September 2024.

The NZSA’s Global Health Committee (GHC) have been active in their support in the Pacific region. This has included:

  • Facilitating 32 anaesthetists to provide locum cover across the Pacific to allow our Pacific-based anaesthesia colleagues to attend the Pacific Society of Anaesthetists (PSA) Meeting.
  • Hosting a virtual meeting in April for anaesthetists from across the motu who provided volunteer locum cover during recent PSA meetings to facilitate a shared discussion and reflection, and to gain CPD. Our thanks to Dr Ted Hughes and Dr Vanessa Beavis who advocated to gain approval for this as a Cultural CPD activity.
  • Dr Alan Goodey from the GHC and Dr Akuila Waqanicakau from Fiji facilitated another Pacific Anaesthetic Assistants Course in Fiji. This training is facilitated by the NZSA with additional financial support from NZATS and funding from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Education

Both PANNZ and the Inpatient Pain Network were able to hold their regular meetings. The Inpatient Pain Network in Wellington in December 2023 and PANNZ hosting their annual update in Hamilton in April 2024.

The Joint Anaesthesia Faculty Auckland Trust’s (JAFA) events were highlights of the educational calendar this year. NZSA representatives attended the Annual Queenstown Update in Anaesthesia (AQUA) and valued the opportunity to support this popular event. NZSA executive member, Dr Jonathan Panckhurst, and I presented at and attended the inaugural South Pacific Anaesthesia Meeting in Fiji, and the NZSA was proud to continue to sponsor the Annual Registrars’ Meeting in December 2023 and continue the regular NZSA-sponsored prize at this event.

NZSA trainee representatives hosted another well attended webinar for Resident Doctors and Medical Students to hear from trainee and SMO anaesthesists across the motu late in 2023.

The Aotearoa NZ Anaesthesia ASM once again was the largest Aotearoa based event for our community. The team in Ōtepoti Dunedin facilitated an outstanding event and we look forward to another in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this November. Accompanied by the perioperative symposium on the Tuesday before the Aotearoa NZ Anaesthesia ASM.

Executive committee and staff member changes

The NZSA Executive Committee so generously give their time to represent us all and I am grateful for the mahi of my fellow executive members. The committee has had a few changes over the past year.

Tēnā rawa atu koe. Our thanks to Dr Caroline Ariaens, Dr Ben van der Griend, and Dr Nathan Kershaw who completed their time on the executive committee to pursue new opportunities. As well as Dr Aidan Ward who completed his two-year term as a trainee representative. I wish to thank them all for their mahi, their expertise and their guidance for the NZSA and its members.

The executive committee has also welcomed two new members. Dr James McAlpine from Wellington has taken over the education portfolio, representing the NZSA on the ANZAEC; and Dr Sarah Tomlinson from Tauranga has joined us as a trainee representative.

At the approaching AGM, Dr Cathy Caldwell will be handing over the role as NZSA Treasurer to Dr Willem Odendaal. I wish to thank Cathy for her invaluable work for the NZSA both as treasurer and representing our private practice network. Dr Willem Odendall, also from Wellington, joins the executive committee as a new member.

NZSA Executive and Network Support Administrator Becs Nodwell finished her time with the NZSA midway through the year. The team in the office and the NZSA networks and joint committees have all benefitted from her administrative support and guidance. I wish to thank Becs for her support over the last few years.

Looking ahead

The NZSA survey run earlier this year has provided valuable insight that assists us in strategic planning for the Society. Thank you to everyone able to take the time to share your thoughts.

Areas of focus for the year ahead include continuing our advocacy work with a lens on the representation of our specialty and the wellbeing of our workforce; seeking opportunities to help members in gaining CPD; publishing a suite of free digital patient educational resources; and building ways in which we can also support members in developing their use of te ao Māori in their practice.

Closing remarks

There are many who I must thank. My fellow executive committee members, the networks and committees and numerous members who generously give their time to support the work of the NZSA. Alongside those who support them in this mahi. Thanks also to the team in the office who ensure the day-to-day running of the Society. I also wish to acknowledge the support of the many stakeholders and partnership organisations who work alongside the NZSA each year.

Vitally important are each of our members. I thank you again for your support of the NZSA, and for allowing us to continue our work towards advancing the specialty of anaesthesia and pain care to improve the health outcomes for all in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I look forward to connecting with many of you at the Aotearoa NZ ASM.

Ngā mihi,
Dr Morgan Edwards
President, New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists