This 22^nd issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct covers a wide range of news, including items about the Union AID charity, the Clinical Governance Index,  further news on the 'Hobbit' saga, information about the Health of the Health Professional Conference, and reminders of a number of upcoming events as well as the forthcoming National Executive elections.

This 21st issue of ASMS Duirect for 2010 covers: the recent issue of The Specialist; the Clinical Governance Development index;  a poem from a frustrated specialist; and reminders about the appeal for the Pike River Miners' families, the forthcoming National Executive Elections and the inaugural Cancer Symposium.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of this 20^th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct. This issue covers;  ASMS' donation to the Pike River Miners families; the call for nominations for the National Executive elections early next year;  the university of Otago's Inaugural International Cancer Symposium in Wellington, 13-19 February 2011.

This 19th issue of ASMS Direct provides an update on the National DHB MECA Negotiations and the Business Case being jointly developed with the DHBs, it also covers the DHBs response to issues around the MRT and laboratory workers strike, provides information on the University of Otage's inaugural Cancer Symposium and the ASMS National Executives expression of appreciation to MAS for its excellent support of members in response to the Canterbury earthquake. 

The ASMS has received a letter for all hospital doctors and pharmacists from Medicines New Zealand to consider the best approach to hospital medicines procurement by Pharmac following the government’s recent policy announcement. This policy shift arises out of last year’s Ministerial Review Group (Horn) Report. The emphasis of the letter is to encourage as many of you to attend a meeting on Saturday 20 November in Auckland and to consider making a submission to Pharmac by Friday 17 December.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 17th issue of ASMS Direct for 2010.  This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:
1.  ASMS urges DHBs to support senior doctors in coping during MRT and laboratory workers strikes
2.  Medical Council updating its statements
3.  Use of CME expenses for laptops and electronic aids
4.  Reminder: Annual Conference Organisation, 18-19 November, Wellington (Te Papa)
5.  Outcomes of World Medical Assocation General Assembly, 13-16 October, Vancouver

The 16th issue of ASMS Direct for 2010 covers:  Green MP Kevin Hague's initiative to strenthen the new Quality & Safety Commission;  the call by the outgoing President of the World Medical Association for doctors to engage the public in the "battle" to improve health care; discussion of the MECA variation as regards CME expenses; and the World Medical Associations statement that Doctors remain best qualified to prescribe.

This 15th issue of 'ASMS Direct' for 2010 covers the Health Minister's statement that the hospital specialist workforce crisis is the government’s number one priority in the health sector and the RMO MECA Negotiations.  It includes a reminder about the Annual Conference on 18-19 November in Wellington (at Te Papa) which outlines some of the key issues and speakers at this years conference.

The latest issue of ASMS Direct focuses on:
1. Government health policy objectives threatened by specialist workforce crisis
2. Punitive amendments to the Employment Relations Act
3. CTU: 80% Oppose changes to dismissal laws
4. Reminder: Annual Conference Organisation, 18-19 November, Wellington (Te Papa)

This 13th issue of ASMS Direct for 2010 focuses on recent developments in the MECA negotiations.  In particular, it outlines an agreement reached between the ASMS and the DHBs on a variation to the current MECA to allow a 2% salary increase in January 2011 as part of a 'holding pattern' in the MECA negotiatiions as a joint business case is developed to be taken to the Government. It includes information on protection for new employees post April 2011 if the MECA negotiations are still continuing and a joint ASMS-DHBs media statement on the 'holding pattern'.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 12th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct.  This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:
1. ASMS Website revamped
2. jobs.asms.org.nz promoted in BMJ Careers
3. Operating theatres’ productivity
4. Health Minister declines request for self-funded drugs in public hospital
5. DHBs’ quarterly reports released by Health Minister
6. Paul Henry outed:  pot, kettle and black!

This latest issue of ASMS Direct covers TVNZ's apology for any offence caused by Paul Henry's comments about foreign-trained doctors, the Medical Council and DHBs signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and the Medical Council's plans to conduct an online survey of perceptions about it's objectives and performance.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 10th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct. This issue focuses on:

1. Specialist workforce crisis in DHBs highlighted

2. The pain that is Paul Henry

3. CTU campaign revs up on government’s proposed industrial law changes: fairness at work

4. Brief update on national DHB MECA negotiations

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 9th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct, our national electronic publication. This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:

1. Beyond the Politics of Livid Pus

2. Resignation of Capital & Coast Chief Executive: A “Black Day”

3. ASMS Checkpoint interview

4. CTU comment on Whelan resignation

5. Medical Council statement on new Pacific Peoples Resource

6. Health Minister announces medicine recall guidelines review

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 8^th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct, our national electronic publication. This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:

1. Update on National DHB MECA Negotiations

2. June issue of The Specialist

3. In Good Hands Survey: Rate your DHB on Clinical Leadership.

4. Medical Council Statement

5. Further CTU Media Statement on Health Spending

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 7th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct, our national electronic publication.  This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:

1. New Quality & Safety Commission
2. Outcome of National Executive By-Election
3. CTU media statement on health spending
4. National IT website

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 6^th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct, our national electronic publication.

Given the difficult environment the ASMS is negotiating in, our MECA negotiations are progressing reasonably well. We have had two informal meetings with DHB representatives in December and February followed by a constructive workshop on the recruitment and retention status of the senior medical workforce last month. We were pleased that for the first time nationally the DHBs acknowledged the seriousness of the medical workforce situation.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 5^th issue for 2010 of ASMS Direct, our national electronic publication.

It is with much sadness that I have to advise members of the passing of John Hawke. John was on the salaried dentists group that merged into the ASMS when we were formed in 1989. He was elected to our first National Executive that same year and was elected National President in 1995 for a two-year term. John also played an important ASMS leadership role in the Auckland region, in particular Counties Manukau. He was also the ASMS’s first life member.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 4th issue of ASMS Direct for 2010.

1. March issue of The Specialist

2. National DHB MECA negotiations underway

3. ‘National terms of settlement’

4. Director-General position – a sad, sorry tale

5. Analysis of Ministerial Review Group (Horn) Report

6. New ASMS Health Dialogue

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 3^rd issue of ASMS Direct for 2010.

1. Proposal to Expand Current Role of Pharmac to Hospital Medicines and Some Medical Devices
2. Medical Council Media Statement on Dr Ranchhod Controversy
3. ASMS Health Dialogue: Commentary on SMO Commission
4. National DHB MECA Negotiations

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 2nd issue of ASMS Direct for 2010.

1. Positive Reactions to Historic ASMS-IPAC Joint Statement.

2. New Medical Council Chairperson.

We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 1^st issue of ASMS Direct for 2010.  This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on an historic agreement reached between the ASMS and the Independent Practitioners Association Council (IPAC).

1. Historic ASMS-IPAC Joint Statement.

2. Joint ASMS-IPAC media statement.

3. Informal discussions on national DHB MECA negotiations.