3764 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 138 4 OCTOBER 2013

Scopes of Practice

Provisional general scope of practice

The practice of medicine in a position approved by the Medical Council of New Zealand (“Council”), under supervision approved by the Council.

General scope of practice

The practice of medicine.

The “practice of medicine” includes:

• advertising, holding out to the public, or representing in any manner that one is authorised to practise medicine in New Zealand
• signing any medical certificate required for statutory purposes, such as death and cremation certificates
• prescribing medicines whose sale and supply is restricted by law to prescription by medical practitioners
• assessing, diagnosing, treating, reporting or giving advice in a medical capacity, using the knowledge, skills, attitudes and competence initially attained for the MB ChB degree (or equivalent) and built upon in postgraduate and continuing medical education, wherever there could be an issue of public safety.

The practice of medicine goes wider than clinical medicine, and includes teaching, research, medical or health management, in hospitals, clinics, general practices and community and institutional contexts, whether paid or voluntary.

Provisional vocational scope of practice

The practice of medicine within a vocational scope of practice under supervision, and assessment if required.

Vocational scopes of practice

The practice of medicine that allows a medical practitioner to work in a specific scope of practice, for which he or she has appropriate vocational training, qualifications and experience. (See Appendix 1 for vocational scopes of practice.)

Special purpose scopes of practice¹

The practice of medicine, for defined or limited reasons, undertaken:

• within a New Zealand hospital, general practice, educational institution or other organisation approved by the Council; and
• under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner approved by the Council.

The special purpose scopes of practice are:

• Teaching as a visiting expert for up to one week
• Postgraduate training for up to two years
• Undertaking research for up to two years
• Working as a locum tenens for up to 12 months
• Assisting in an emergency or other unpredictable, short-term situation
• Assisting in a pandemic or disaster
• Providing teleradiology services to New Zealand patients for up to 12 months.

Trainees registered in the postgraduate training scope of practice:

• may not undertake relief runs (excluding postgraduate trainees covered under the policy for cardiothoracic surgical training units)
• must have at least two hours per week protected time for teaching and will be required to attend any relevant tutorials and grand rounds.

¹ The special purpose scope of practice is time-limited and does not lead to any form of permanent registration. Any time spent on a special purpose scope will not be counted towards a period of supervision for any permanent form of registration that may be granted subsequent to a medical practitioner holding a special purpose scope, unless the international medical graduate is registered on the locum tenens scope and granted eligibility for registration under the (provisional vocational) supervision pathway of a vocational scope.