Boost nurse promise: AMA

THE AMA has urged the federal government to expand its practice nurse pre-election promise so nurses could also carry out home visits in aged-care facilities.The association said expanding the initiative would greatly benefit older people and could boost low numbers of GPs currently visiting aged-care homes – a figure it estimates is only 16 per cent.

The initiative currently includes a rebate for practice nurses to visit older people, such as veterans, war widows and widowers, and younger patients deemed frail, in their homes.

It would result in 800,000 home visits over four years, according to the government.

While welcoming the proposal, the AMA said it could go further by including aged-care facilities and allowing practice nurses to prepare patients for a GP visit.

GPs were often reluctant to visit care homes because of poor IT facilities and a lack of treatment rooms, it added.

AMA aged-care spokesman Dr Peter Ford said there was often just one residential aged-care nurse per 100 patients.

“If we could have our nurses prepare patients before we visit, it would really help us.

“Attending to the paperwork for care planning, making the patient accessible, weighing them... it would make the whole process more efficient.”

The Australian Practice Nurses Association (APNA) said a team care approach was a positive step in making healthcare more accessible and effective for older people.

It said that practice nurses might support on-site staff with treatment goals and provide an educative role for patients and families.

APNA president Anne Matyear said the organisation looked forward to “firm developments” in the area.

“Plans to improve access and delivery of quality general practice services to older Australians by broadening the home visit item... will contribute to improved health outcomes for this population,” she said.