Colposcopists work in both public and private clinics and are important health practitioners working in the National Cervical Screening Programme in New Zealand.

Colposcopists are required to be qualified and registered to practice in New Zealand.  Please refer to Medical Council of New Zealand website for further information.

All Practising Coloscopists: New RANZCOG Certification Programme

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has commenced the certification process for Doctors who wish to register as a practising colposcopist. 

Please see the information from the College on how to obtain Certification as a Practising Colposcopist.  The NCSP recommends you register with RANZCOG before 31 December 2011.

Please note: The NCSP will be amending the colposcopy standards to meet the requirements set by RANZCOG for practising colposcopists, in line with their time frame. 

If you have any queries about their (re) certification programme, please send these directly to the College, contact details as follows:  Miss Jordan Chrisp, C-QUIP Coordinator, RANZCOG (jchrisp@ranzcog.edu.au)

Responsibilities of Colposcopists:

Colposcopists have responsibilities through:

• the NCSP Operational Policy and Quality Standards to meet minimum volumes, requirements for participation in CME activities and best practice requirements
  the maintenance and skill levels as required by the Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and 
• legislative requirements under the Health Act 1956, Part 4A. 

Under Chapter 6 of the NCSP OP&QS,  there are general requirements that colposcopists should become familiar with and incorporate into their practice.  The Standards and Policies are requirements for colposcopists employed by DHBs but are also guidelines for colposcopists who work in private practice. 

The relevant policies in chapter 6 in summary are:

Colposcopy staffing policy: Colposcopy must be performed by a trained colposcopist who works closely with an experienced gynaecology or sexual health nurse and pathologist.  Colposcopists under training must be supervised by an experience colposcopist.   Colposcopists must maintain a volume and spectrum of new referrals to enhance diagnostic and treatment skills and participate in continuing medical education.

Work practices policy:  Colposcopy must make a treatment plan in discussion with the woman once a diagnosis is reached, inform the woman’s GP as soon as possible of the diagnosis, options give to the woman and the choices she makes, if known and attend regular multidisciplinary meetings with pathologist, cytologist and colposcopy staff.

Support for women policy:  Colposcopy services must be available and appropriate to women.  For Maori women the Crown has duties and responsibilities to ensure improved health outcomes.  Colposcopy services are required to be appropriate and supportive of Pacific, Asian and women from other ethnic groups.

Providing information to women policy:  An experienced nurse or social worker must be available to all women during and after the consultation.  After diagnosis women must be given all options for treatment, written information on treatment options, information regarding appropriate anaesthetic options, information about the availability of free, high quality treatments, the option for referral to a gynaecology oncology services wehere required and information on referral to long term support services where required.

The Standards in Chapter 6 in summary are:

Standard 603:  100% of medical notes will accurately record colposcopic findings including:

• Visibility of the squamo-columnar junction
• Presence or absence of a visible lesion
• Visibility of the limits of the lesion
• Colposcopic opinion regarding he nature of the abnormality and requirement for treatment

Standard 604:  Colposcopists will ensure at least 90% of women receive their definitive diagnosis by sending and/or discussing the definitive diagnosis with them within 30 working days of their colposcopy visit.

Standard 606:  All women who have ablative treatment must have an adequate biopsy taken which will be sent for histological sample.

Standard 607:  90% of LLETZ treatments are performed as an outpatient service under local analgesia.

Standard 608:  90% of women treated for CIN will

• Have a colposcopy and smear within the 6-12 month period post treatment
• Be discharged back to the smear taker as appropriate

Standard 610:  All colposcopists participating in the NCSP must be qualified and registered to practice in New Zealand.  They must have professional accountability and responsibility for adequate training and standards.  All colposcopy clinics must be directed or led by a named, appropriately skilled medical specialist responsible for ensuring delivery of services in accordance with the OP&QS.  All colposcopy clinics must have a named lead clinic nurse.

Standard 611:  All colposcopist who work in a DHB will manage a minimum of 50 new cases per annum.  The ideal number is 100 per annum.  They will attend a national or international meeting at least once every three years and must participate in CME activities of which one must include peer review.

The following standards apply to the provision of colposcopy services by DHBs and colposcopists should be aware of these:

Standard 601: Informing women about colposcopy referral and assessment
Standard 602: Improving the timeliness of diagnosis
Standard 605: Ensuring timeliness of treatment
Standard 609: Managing women who did not attend
Standard 612: Providing an adequate clinical environment

Typically all of the above Standards are monitored through audits undertaken by the NCSP and some regular reporting through the contract monitoring process.

Under the Health Act 1956, Part 4A, Section 112M all colposcopists are required to explain the colposcopic procedure to the woman and provide information about the objectives of the National Cervical Screening Programme and Register.  They must also report to the NCSP-Register, all information, free of charge, relevant to all referrals and visits of women to their colposcopy service.  This is done either electronically to the NCSP-Register or by completing paper forms and submitting these to the NCSP-Register.

Professional Development

Colposcopists are required to be qualified to practice as a medical practitioner as well as having specialist training in Obstetrician and Gynaecology specialising in colposcopy.  They are required to be registered by the New Zealand Medical Council. 

Information about continuing professional development requirements can be obtained from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstericians and Gynaecologists website.