Who we are, what we stand for, and how we work with general practices across our region. People, purpose, and a genuine commitment to health and wellbeing for all.
Pinnacle partners with Practice Plus to provide same day virtual after-hours GP appointments for enrolled patients, as an extension of our regular medical centre team.
In this section we share clinical and practice operations updates from Pinnacle and the wider health sector. Use the search box and filters to help find what you’re looking for.
Community Based Attachments (CBAs) are three-month placements where new doctors (PGY1 and 2) work in general practice under close supervision. They provide a valuable opportunity for practices to contribute to the development of the next generation of GPs, while receiving some funding support. Accredited practices play a vital role in offering safe, meaningful experiences for junior doctors — experiences that have been described as career-shaping, and even career-saving. If your practice is interested in exploring accreditation to host PGY doctors, please get in touch.
This eight week course comprises 150 hours of learning equating to approximately 10 hours of study per week. The aim of this micro credential is to develop participant's proficiency in the principles, knowledge and practice of trauma informed care, when caring for people with multidimensional experiences of trauma, and their whānau.
Implementation of the FIT for Symptomatic clinical pathway in the Waikato took place 11 August. Supporting documents are available to ensure you and your patients have the information needed.
Pinnacle-wide Te Whatu Ora updates regarding the Community Referred Radiology (CRR) Programme, dengue fever and the latest new and updated HealthPathways pathways.
Te Kaunihera Manapou | Paramedic Council is exploring the possibility of paramedics in Aotearoa New Zealand gaining prescribing authority. The Council is seeking early feedback from paramedics, stakeholders across the health sector, and the public on how familiar you are with prescribing, your level of support, and safeguards or training you think are needed.
From September 2025, all children under five can receive the fully funded meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero), allowing those who missed doses in their first year to complete the course. Around 77,000 children are expected to benefit.
Pharmac is also simplifying access to funded Covid medications—people over 50, and those at risk of complications, can receive treatment from 1 September, alongside continued access for immunocompromised and vulnerable people under 50.
Te Whatu Ora is pleased to share three new funding opportunities to grow and support the primary and community care nursing workforce. These new funding opportunities aim to support new nurses to start their careers in the community, grow the pipeline of nurse practitioners and increase access to prescribing and advanced nursing care.
Te Whatu Ora is introducing mandatory national criteria for Community Referred Radiology (CRR) from 1 September 2025, replacing the previous regionally adapted framework. These changes aim to standardise access and improve equity nationwide.
The Ministry of Health has published new clinical guidelines for the assessment and treatment of ADHD. Te Whatu Ora has confirmed that adult ADHD services will not be publicly funded and must be accessed privately. The framework supports GPs, who complete appropriate self-directed training, to diagnose and initiate treatment for ADHD. The College of GPs is developing an education package to support this training, expected to launch by Christmas 2025.