Media Release: 25 March 2009
Nurses lead the way in primary health care – ANF
Nurses are providing the bulk of primary health care to people living in rural and remote Australia according to the latest Australian National Audit Office report on the Rural and Remote Health Workforce Capacity.
“Nurses in rural and remote areas are providing most of the primary health care services in communities and should be given the professional recognition they deserve and incentives to stay in these areas,” Australian Nursing Federation Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said today.
The Rural and Remote Health Workforce Capacity report, commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing reveals a severe shortage of health care professionals in rural and remote areas but singles nurses out as being “relatively evenly distributed across Australia”.
“Nurse led models of care focus on disease and illness prevention as opposed to the medical model of care which primarily focus on existing illnesses. Nurses are ideally placed to promote healthy lifestyle choices and educate people about taking steps to prevent ill health. We have numerous examples of nurses working in rural and remote settings independent of other health professionals,” Ms Kearney said.
Ms Kearney said people who use nursing services should be able to access federal government subsidies such as the PBS for cheaper medicines and Medicare funding for care, pathology tests and referrals to other health professionals. This would mean that all Australian communities have improved access to affordable and safe health care services.
“We know, for example, that a nurse led initiative in Mudgee in rural New South Wales is providing health services to men who were reluctant to visit a local GP. Since this service began in 2005 more than 1,246 men accessed MERV, more than one-third had not seen a GP for a full health check up within the past year.”
Ms Kearney said there were numerous examples of wonderful nurse led initiatives and models of care throughout Australia.
“It is time to give nurses the recognition they deserve and ensure that all Australians are able to access quality health services that nurses provide in a timely and efficient manner.
Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, ANF 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.