Historic Day For Health Care, Nurses And Midwives - ANF Welcomes Legislation To Increase Access To Quality Health Care

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 23 Jun 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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New legislation giving 'eligible midwives' and nurse practitioners prescribing rights on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medical benefits Schedule (MBS) will allow more Australians to access quality, affordable health care according to the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).

The Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill and a Professional Indemnity Bill covering midwives will be tabled in Federal Parliament tomorrow (24 June).

"The ANF congratulates the Australian government and the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon for recognising the benefits that highly skilled and educated nurse practitioners and midwives bring to the health of all Australians," Ged Kearney ANF Federal Secretary said.

"The government has taken a practical, common sense approach to helping more people get safe, effective health care. Nurse practitioners already have authority to prescribe medications but patients could not get rebates on the medicines and tests they prescribed."

The legislation would also allow pregnant women access to the full range of services available from eligible midwives.

Ms Kearney said the ANF and peak nursing and midwifery bodies were looking forward to further talks with the Minister for Health and Ageing in order to work out the detail of the legislation. "The legislation must be designed to give patients efficient access to the full range of care that nurse practitioners and midwives provide," she said. "People need our care now, let's make it happen."

Source
Australian Nurising Federation