Commencement

This notice is given pursuant to section 14 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and comes into effect on 1 April 2025. On that date, it revokes and replaces the previous notice (New Zealand Gazette, 2 April 2024, Notice No. 2024-sl1415) issued by the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand | Te Kaunihera Pūtaiao Hauora o Aotearoa (“Council”) regarding the profession of Anaesthetic Technology.

Introduction

Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Council is required to define the practice of Anaesthetic Technology in Aotearoa | New Zealand. Anaesthetic Technicians seeking to practice in Aotearoa | New Zealand must be registered with the Council and hold a current practising certificate as required by the Act.

The Profession of Anaesthetic Technology

Anaesthetic Technology is the provision of perioperative technical management and patient care, both in the perioperative environment and in related areas. Anaesthetic technicians work collaboratively with other health professionals.

Anaesthetic Technician scope of practice:

1. Anaesthetic technicians use their clinical knowledge, skills, and judgement to perform a variety of functions to support the provision of high quality and safe perioperative care in accredited health care facilities. Anaesthetic technicians are patient focussed and assess health needs and provide patient care in collaboration with other health professionals across the perioperative environment, including pre- and post-anaesthesia care; intraoperative care and patient monitoring; collection of samples for diagnostic intervention; and contributing to emergency responses.
2. Anaesthetic technicians may use their clinical skills and knowledge to practise in related areas in the healthcare setting, including but not limited to, the post-anaesthetic care unit, circulating and scrub roles, and with appropriate education may include clinical skills such as the insertion of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines.
3. Anaesthetic technicians may practise in operating departments, radiology, intensive care, maternity, emergency departments, and any other areas where anaesthesia is administered, emergency management of the airway is required, haemodynamically unstable patient care is conducted or where the practitioner has the knowledge and assessed competence that aligns with the required standards for the scope of practice. Anaesthetic technicians may provide support for the safe transportation of patients requiring surgery, within and between hospitals and healthcare settings.
4. The skills and activities of anaesthetic technicians are further described in the Council’s Competence Standards for Anaesthetic Technicians in Aotearoa New Zealand, as updated from time to time to reflect current practice.
5. Anaesthetic technicians are individually accountable for ensuring all health services they provide are consistent with their education and skill level and meet the Council’s Competence Standards for Anaesthetic Technicians in Aotearoa New Zealand, Cultural Competence [Standards], and the Code of Ethical Conduct.
6. Anaesthetic technicians practice in public or private health care settings and may also practise in the health sector outside of direct patient care, for example in management, regulation, quality, safety, or education.

All anaesthetic technicians have a responsibility to ensure they only practise in those areas where they have demonstrated competency as set out in the current Competence Standards for Anaesthetic Technicians in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

Prescribed Qualifications

For the purpose of registration as an Anaesthetic Technician, an applicant must hold one of the following qualifications:

New Zealand Graduates

1. A Bachelor of Health Science degree in Perioperative Practice issued by a New Zealand University accredited by the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand; or

Overseas educated practitioners

1. A qualification assessed by the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand as substantially equivalent to the prescribed New Zealand qualification; or
2. A Bachelor’s or Post Graduate degree in a discipline assessed as relevant by the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand and appropriate relevant clinical experience as determined by the Medical Sciences Council and successful completion of an examination for anaesthetic technicians set by the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand.

Dated at Wellington this 22nd day of January 2025.

CALEB BRIDGEMAN, Registrar, Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand | Te Kaunihera Pūtaiao Hauora o Aotearoa.