Plan B Forum

Walk-in Centre opens to the public as nurse practitioners awarded prescribing rights

Released 18/05/2010


ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, today announced new prescribing rights for nurse practitioners, as Canberra's nurse-led Walk-in Centre opened for business.

The new clinic located at the Canberra Hospital is Australia's first public nurse-led Walk-in Centre and will provide free treatment for people with minor illnesses and injuries.

"This is an exciting and proud day for the Government and ACT Health which has developed this innovative model of care aimed at reducing pressure on our emergency departments and improving access to primary care," Ms Gallagher said.

"This milestone also underlines the importance of nurses to our health system and recognises the knowledge, skills and expertise of our nursing staff," she said.

The Walk-in Centre aims to offer Canberrans fast, free, one-off treatment for minor ailments such as cuts and bruises, sprains, skin complaints, coughs and colds, and minor burns and infections. People with chronic or more serious conditions will be redirected to more appropriate services such as their GP or the emergency department. The Centre is staffed by specialised nursing staff and will operate from 7am until 11pm seven days a week.

"Today I'm also announcing an amendment to ACT medicines legislation that will now allow nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled medicines," Ms Gallagher said.

"This amendment to the Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 will enable suitably qualified nurse practitioners to provide their patients with a wider range of treatment options.

"While the use of controlled medicines such as morphine and oxycodone is strictly regulated by legislation, it makes good sense for a nurse practitioner qualified and working in the field of palliative care to be able to prescribe morphine to a patient to relieve their pain.

"Nurse practitioners will be required to comply with all legislation to the same extent as doctors and dentists.

"This amendment will extend the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in the ACT and bring us into line with established practice in other Australian healthcare jurisdictions," Ms Gallagher said.


http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=9543

@meric@nwom@n wrote:I thought you were a nurse practitioner Gob, don't you prescribe psych drugs? But somewhere I read you described as an occupational therapist which is something completely different here.

Sean wrote:I thought he was the cleaner?

Be hard to prescribe drugs until the legislation permitting that to happen is brought in, see the OP.

@meric@nwom@n wrote:I did not realize that crackpot was a sock for Editec.

@meric@nwom@n wrote: Yes yes, except I had no idea we were so far ahead of Oz on that point. And I thought you prescribed drugs. (Hey it's better (as in more flattering) than thinking you are an orderly.)