Wellbeing and vitality in education (WAVE) is an education setting based health promotion initiative in South Canterbury, New Zealand. A mixed method approach was used for assessing change over time. Over ninety percent of education settings (94%) were participating in WAVE (n = 95). A total of 73 education settings completed the questionnaire at both baseline and follow-up. Evaluation of the WAVE programme shows that a robust partnership between health and education sectors can provide the basis for high levels of participation and significant changes in practice across all levels of education and a whole province. Evaluation results included that professional development for staff in some health related topics had improved. There was evidence of increasing partnerships between schools and community. Teachers had become role models for health messages and students had taken on leadership roles. Although the approach was based on health promoting schools literature, early engagement with education settings allowed the development of a local programme and branding. The overall outcome of WAVE has been a culture change in South Canterbury, where promoting the health of students, staff and families is becoming part of normal business for education settings. The results provide reason for optimism regarding the careful use of a health promoting schools framework, working in partnership with a range of stakeholders towards improving the health and subsequent life chances of young people.

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INTRODUCTIONThe delivery of health care by primary care general practices rapidly changed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020. AIMThis study explores the experience of a large group of New Zealand general practice health-care professionals with changes to prescribing medication during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODSWe qualitatively analysed a subtheme on prescribing medication from the General Practice Pandemic Experience New Zealand (GPPENZ) study, where general practice team members nationwide were invited to participate in five surveys over 16 weeks from 8 May 2020. RESULTSOverall, 78 (48%) of 164 participants enrolled in the study completed all surveys. Five themes were identified: changes to prescribing medicines; benefits of electronic prescription; technical challenges; clinical and medication supply challenges; and opportunities for the future. There was a rapid adoption of electronic prescribing as an adjunct to use of telehealth, minimising in-person consultations and paper prescription handling. Many found electronic prescribing an efficient and streamlined processes, whereas others had technical barriers and transmission to pharmacies was unreliable with sometimes incompatible systems. There was initially increased demand for repeat medications, and at the same time, concern that vulnerable patients did not have usual access to medication. The benefits of innovation at a time of crisis were recognised and respondents were optimistic that e-prescribing technical challenges could be resolved. DISCUSSIONImproving e-prescribing technology between prescribers and dispensers, initiatives to maintain access to medication, particularly for vulnerable populations, and permanent regulatory changes will help patients continue to access their medications through future pandemic disruption.

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This qualitative study explores how junior nurses, and some who were still in training, navigated the complexities and uncertainties engendered by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Data are drawn from in‐depth interviews with 18 students/nurses in Christchurch, New Zealand. Managing intertwining risk, care and careerscapes takes an intensified form as existing infection control rules, established norms of care, boundaries between home and work and expected career trajectories roil. ‘Safe’ and ‘risky’ spaces are porous but maintained using contextual, critical, clinical judgement. Carescapes are stretched, both within and beyond the walls of healthcare settings. Within the COVID‐19 riskscape, careerscapes are open to both threat and opportunity. Countries demand much of their healthcare staff in times of heath crises, but have a limited appreciation of what it takes to translate seemingly tightly bounded protocols into effective practice. The labour required in this work of translation is navigated moment by moment. To surface some of this invisible work, those implementing pandemic plans may need to more carefully consider how to incorporate attention to the work/home/public boundary as well as overtly acknowledging the invisible emotional, physical and intellectual labour carried out in crisis risk, care and careerscapes.