Curriculum for General Practice - The Royal New Zealand College ...

Health and Work
H
Inequality persists. In New Zealand, Māori suffer from
cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and
respiratory disease at disproportionate levels compared
to non-Māori. These are all conditions associated with
unemployment. 4 It is known that a higher proportion of
New Zealand’s Māori working age population experience
disability than European New Zealanders and an increase
in this disparity occurs with age. 5 Working-age Māori
have three times the chance of being long-term welfare
beneficiaries (on benefits over 12 months) compared with
working-age non-Māori. 6
Between December 2008 and December 2010 the number
of unemployed doubled, at the same time sickness and
invalid beneficiaries increased by 17 percent and 2 percent
respectively. In June 2010 about 58,000 New Zealanders
were receiving the sickness benefit and 85,000 the
invalid’s benefit. An audit was undertaken by the Ministry
of Social Development in October 2009 and a subsequent
programme of work was established called Future Focus.
This aimed to gather more information about a person’s
capacity for work, and provide comprehensive case
management and ongoing monitoring of these initiatives. 7
A call to action on all fronts by all stakeholders is needed.
To not take heed of this body of evidence is to put many
individuals, families and communities at risk of the well
documented health consequences of worklessness.
Dr Kevin Morris, Director Clinical Services, ACC
General practitioners have a critical role when assessing
fitness for work, as the opinion communicated will influence
outcomes. The ability to consider carefully whether a
medical condition necessitates time off work and identifying
where adaptation or accommodation may be more
appropriate in patient recovery is important if the health
benefits of work are to be achieved.
Communication
The GP will demonstrate the ability to:
• communicate appropriately with patients, including
obtaining consent, history-taking, discussing findings
and negotiating a management plan
• communicate their knowledge of relevant legislation
to patients
• communicate risk to patients, carers and their family/
whānau
• employ communication skills when breaking bad news
and describe the processes that might facilitate this
• develop an awareness of and show the ability to complete
certification documents to communicate their opinion
• discuss the communication skills needed for dealing
with conflict or adverse outcomes.
• discuss the specific requirements and ethics behind
notifying other authorities
www.rnzcgp.org.nz
Curriculum for General Practice
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