Tena koutou katoa, The Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (Board) warmly invite stakeholder feedback on its draft naming policy. Please click here to see the to see the consultation document and draft naming policy. The Board is required by recent changes to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA) to develop a naming policy which describes the circumstances under which a psychotherapist who is the subject of an order or determination may be publicly named. The purposes of this naming policy as defined in section 157B(2) of the HPCAA are to:
* enhance public confidence in the health professionals for which the Board is responsible and its disciplinary procedures by providing transparency about its decision-making processes
* ensure that health practitioners whose conduct has not met expected standards may be named where it is in the public interest to do so
* improve the safety and quality of health care. The Board advises that to date the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has not heard a case involving a psychotherapist. The Board has worked collaboratively with other health regulators to understand the requirements, intentions of the HPCAA amendments and to develop this draft naming policy. The draft now out for consultation has been reviewed by a legal firm, the Privacy Commissioner, the Health and Disability Commissioner and the Director-General of Health; their feedback is now incorporated. All feedback received during this consultation will be used to inform the Board as it works towards finalising the naming policy. As per statutory requirements, the final naming policy will be available on the Board's website at the beginning of April 2020. The Board will also advertise the finalised naming policy in its Newsletter. The Board is aware that this consultation period includes the holiday season and apologises for any inconvenience this may cause. However, the consultation period is limited by statutory timeframes. If you would like to comment on the draft naming policy, please send your responses to registrar@pbanz.org.nz by Monday 3rd February 2020. Thank you, I shall look forward to hearing from you.
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