Draft: Medical Equipment
This is a draft page which will replace the existing version on your site in February 2026. See Upcoming Changes. From February 2026, practices who do not have a body protected area need to install one, or create a plan for transitioning to one. |
Followng recent guidance from RNZCGP, more information has been added to explain what's included in a BPA, and the requirements for electrical work and inspection.
Policy
We operate and maintain medical equipment appropriate to the services we offer.
We understand our obligations to:
- minimise risk and maintain a safe environment for our team, patients, and whānau
- ensure that all medical equipment we use complies with performance and safety regulations
- maintenance medical-electrical equipment in accordance with relevant legislation and Standards
Any hazards identified are managed using our hazard and risk management processes. We engage suitably qualified professionals to assess and fix any faults identified during safety checking routines.
Emergency equipment
Emergency equipment and medicines are stored together in a secure location where they are quickly accessible to team members. Staff competencies in using the equipment are kept up to date.
Emergency equipment is readily available for use when needed:
- Emergency equipment is kept on the emergency trolley in the treatment room.
- Designated clinical staff are trained to use emergency equipment, even if these items are stored off site.
The nurses regularly check working order, stock levels, and expiry dates for all emergency equipment:
- Key emergency equipment: (defibrillator, oxygen, suction, IV equipment, and resus equipment) checked daily.
- Other emergency equipment and supplies: checked weekly.
Records of checks are signed and kept with the equipment.
Medical-electrical equipment
All medical-electrical equipment and installations are checked and maintained according to AS/NZS 3003.
Electrical work is carried out by suitably qualified registered electricians who are familiar with the relevant standards, and who understand the requirements for medical-grade residual current devices (RCDs) in body protected areas (BPAs).
Body protected areas
From February 2026 Practices who do not currently have a body protected area need to install one, or create a plan for transitioning to one. More information and resources have been added to this section, explaining the requirements for installing and maintaining a BPA.
Any area/room where mains powered medical-electrical equipments is 
used to diagnose, treat, or monitor patients may be designated as a BPA.
A BPA is set up with special safety features that reduce the risk of electric shock to patients receiving treatment within that area. Features include:
- All socket outlets are protected by visible and easily accessible 10 mA Type 1 medical‑grade residual current devices (RCDs).
- A green Body Protected Area sign on the wall at a height of 2 m from the floor to the top of the sign, displaying current certification and maintenance stickers.
The New Zealand Institute of Healthcare Engineering has guidance on the Requirements for Body Protected Areas in General Practice Medical Centres.
A suitably qualified registered electrician and electrical inspector (for new or modified BPAs) are needed for any work on a BPA.
- installation (wiring) and testing of a BPA
- issuing a Certificate of Compliance (CoC)
- annual inspection and recertification.
A registered electrical inspector is required to:
- inspect new BPA installations and/or modifications to existing BPAs.
- issue a Record of Inspection
- enter the work on the Electricity and Gas High-risk database.
The New Zealand Institute of Healthcare Engineering has guidance on the Requirements for Body Protected Areas in General Practice Medical Centres.
Electrically powered beds, used in a room (such as a consultation room) where no treatment is carried out, may be excluded from the requirements for a BPA. The practice will need to include the rationale for this exclusion in their hazard and risk register.
If you are unsure about the medico-legal risk of using electrical medical devices outside of a BPA, seek legal advice.
Servicing and compliance
This section has been edited for clarity and readability.
The practice manager ensures all electrical equipment is checked, tested, serviced and calibrated as required:
- General electrical equipment is checked and serviced annually (or more frequently if needed) by a registered electrician.
- Medical electrical equipment is serviced, calibrated, and validated annually by a qualified electrician using approved test equipment.
- RCDs are tested at least every six months by practice nurses to ensure they trip when needed.
- BPAs (including RCDs and any other electrical fixtures and fittings) are recertified annually (more frequently if needed) by an appropriately qualified, registered electrician.
We keep all records throughout the life-cycle of medical equipment.
For BPAs this includes:
- records of RCD testing (in-house or by an external contractor)
- records of certification and annual re-certification of the Body Protected Areas (BPAs) according to AS/NZS 3003.
Requirements
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Electrical (Safety) Regulations 2010
- AS/NZS 2500
- AS/NZS 3003 Electrical installations – Patient areas
- AS/NZS 3551
Related policies
Resources
New Zealand Institute of Healthcare Engineering: Requirements for Body Protected Areas in General Practice Medical Centres.
RNZCGP: Required equipment and resources.