Karen's Key Tips and Practice Tricks
If you have any feedback, ideas for tips or need assistance contact Karen at Karen.Bolch@wellsouth.org.nz.
16 July 2025 - Drivers licence medical update
Registered Nurses can complete the drivers medical for enrolled patients in full, freeing up valuable GP time.
Changes to Drivers Licence Medicals
Since 2018 the wording of the NZTA drivers medical changed to ‘health practitioner’. This means that appropriately qualified and registered health practitioners, working within their scope of practice, can assess a patient’s ability to drive. This includes Registered Nurses.
Who must have a medical certificate
Some drivers must have a medical or eyesight certificate to apply for or renew a driver licence or endorsement – drivers who:
· Are applying for or renewing a heavy vehicle license (class 2,3,4,5) and who’ve not provided a certificate within the last five years
· Are applying for or renewing endorsements for passengers (P), vehicle recovery services (V), driving instruction (I) or testing (O) and who’ve not provided a certificate within the last five years
· Have a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive safely
· Are 75 years old or more and applying for or renewing any license or endorsement
· NZTA have asked to provide one.
Concerns about elderly drivers?
If you are satisfied that an older person (75 years +) is medically fit but have concerns about their ability to drive safely, you can recommend that they sit an on-road safety test.
Simply tick the box for this recommendation on the NZTA pre-printed medical form. The driver licensing agent will then arrange the test when the person presents their medical certificate.
NB: The licensing system relies on health practitioners to assess their patient’s medical fitness to drive not only at the time of licence and endorsement application and renewal, but also in between licensing applications.
Resource Link
Printable pdf here.
3 July 2025 - Patient records when a patient transfers to a new practice
The practice newly enrolling the patient is obliged to accept the paper notes along with the electronic records, if the patient has consented to the transfer of records.
Resource Link
Printable pdf here.
18 June 2025 - General Medical Services (GMS) explained
GMS are subsidies paid to general practices under the Section 88 notice to help reduce patient fees for children and subsidy card holders for standard consults.
Resource Link
General Medical Services claim
Printable pdf here.
4 June 2025 - Retention of patient records and confidentiality
Patient health information is highly confidential and must always be handled with care, even after a patient has left the medical centre or is deceased.
Printable pdf here with links to further information.