Information for Health Professionals

Community and Public Health provides information and advice to health professionals such as GPs, nurses and midwives on:

• notifiable and respiratory diseases in the community, and
• applying to become an authorised or yellow fever vaccinator;
• research exploring the issues impacting on the health of the community; and
• submissions on proposed or existing policies and legislation affecting public health.

Find out about other documents and publications produced by Community and Public Health, such as the Health Promoting Schools Magazine.

Notifiable Diseases

The Health Act 1956 requires medical practices and other agencies or institutions, to report some specific diseases or illnesses to the local Medical Officer of Health.

Community and Public Health produces weekly and monthly notifiable disease surveillance reports of incidence and rates by territorial local authority within Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast and also for other South Island District health boards.

Download factsheets on diseases of public health importance.

Other Disease Surveillance

Community and Public Health compiles surveillance data of influenza-like illness from general practitioners during winter. Other respiratory viruses during this time are reported weekly by Canterbury Health Laboratory.

Detailed reports are also produced for outbreaks or epidemics of diseases.

The Public Health information Quarterly newsletter gives information on community surveillance for primary care providers.

Public Health Reports including health impact assessments and submissions

Health Impact Assessment | Position Statements | Public Health Reports | Submissions |

Effective public health action is informed by evidence. Staff at Community and Public Health prepare reports and submissions often in partnership with or for other organisations.

Vaccinators

Medical Officers of Health are responsible for approving or recommending authorised vaccinator applications for individuals or centres.

Find out about the process of applying to become either an authorised or yellow fever vaccinator.