News

Spokesperson:	Australian Divisions of General Practice Ltd
Date:	Wednesday, 12 April 2006
Category:	Nursing

ADGP welcomes the announcement today by the Minister for Health and Ageing to extend the subsidy to employ nurses in an additional 650 general practices in urban areas of workforce shortage. Over 50% of general practices across Australia now employ a practice nurse, with close to 5,000 nurses now working in this area. Kate Carnell said “We agree that using practice nurses is an important step in relieving workforce pressures created by doctor shortages. Nurses are involved in delivering a wide range of services and play a particularly important role in assisting the general practitioner in the management of people with chronic illnesses. “Practice nurses are skilled and experienced professionals who play a key role in supporting general practitioners and working as part of the health care team to deliver primary care services to their communities.” ADGP’s Primary Health Care Position Statement released last year identifies practice nurses as core members of the general practice teams of the future. ‘Whilst today’s announcement is welcomed the extension of the practice nurse subsidy to all practices would make a big difference in supporting every practice to be able to employ a practice nurse.”