Archived Media Releases: 21 April 2008

A sustainable and reshaped workforce a vision for 2020 the key to effective primary care

The ANF shares the vision of the 2020 summit for a robust, sustainable and new look health workforce by 2020. The ANF particularly welcomes discussion around breaking down legislative and professional barriers to advancing the role of competent health professionals such as nurse practitioners as an integral part of workforce reform.

Breaking down legislative barriers to allow nurses and other health professionals with appropriated education and experience to be able to access the PBS and order diagnostic procedures is just plain common sense.

Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary who attended the summit as a “summiteer” said there was a great deal of support for legitimizing the advanced role nurses play in the delivery of health care, and their contribution to a multidisciplinary approach to acute, primary and aged care. Specific reference was made to the need for a multidisciplinary approach to managing chronic disease. “It is now acknowledged that limiting prescribing rights and diagnostic ordering rights to doctors is not efficient and is a major barrier to encouraging the employment of nurse practitioners.

Not only will it ensure more efficient and effective health care delivery, maximizing health outcomes for the community, but it will also ensure a more attractive career path for nurses with greater job satisfaction. Acknowledgment of contribution is important to nurses, as is knowing that they have made a difference to the people they care for. This will be a huge boost for retention of nurses who as we know struggle to keep working in the current system.”

Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Libby Muir, ANF Communications Officer, 0413 834 979

The ANF, with 170,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.