Pursuant to section 11 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the following notice is given.
1. This notice amends the Medical Council of New Zealand’s notice "Scopes of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications for the Practice of Medicine in New Zealand", published in the Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 3 February 2012, No. 12, page 283, by inserting, in the appendix on page 293, after the entry relating to Paediatrics, the following entry (relating to a new scope of practice and prescribed qualification):
"Pain Medicine
The biopsychosocial assessment and management of persons with complex pain, especially when an underlying condition is not directly treatable. The scope of pain medicine supplements that of other medical disciplines, and utilises interdisciplinary skills to promote improved quality-of-life through improved physical, psychological and social function.
Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FFPMANZCA)"
2. This notice comes into effect on 3 December 2012.
Explanatory Note
On 17 October 2012, the Medical Council of New Zealand approved a new vocational scope of practice of Pain Medicine and associated prescribed qualification.