Media Release: 10 August 2010

Nurses believe “faceless medicine” campaign is outdated and misleading

The Australian Nursing Federation believes that the AMA Victoria marginal seats campaign of faceless medicine is outdated and misleading.

Federal Secretary Lee Thomas said that the ANF supports a flexible, patient-centric approach to healthcare because patients require a broad range of expert advice and care, including consulting with highly experienced nurses.

“Currently there are a number of nurses providing direct care in the community, and this is an important and vital role of nurse practitioners” Ms Thomas said.

“The one-stop-shop model of the past where patients relied wholly on one person for every aspect of care is outdated, and does not assist with preventative healthcare or patient care,” said Ms Thomas.

“It time to focus on the needs of the entire community, and ensure that nurses, allied health and general practitioners worked together to bring patients the best possible healthcare outcomes,” said Ms Thomas. “To suggest that a visit to the family doctor is the only way for patient to access health care - and that any other option means lower quality care - is costly for the Australian community, and misleading in the extreme”.

Media Contacts
Eleni Hale, Media Advisor, 0458 892 999

 

The ANF, with 175,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia