Patients And The Community Are The Big Winners In Ground Breaking Health Reform Budget - Australian

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12th May 2009, 10:40pm - Views: 669






Business Finance Australian Nursing Federation 2 image

Business Finance Australian Nursing Federation 3 image

       

                                   



Canberra Office 


Unit 3, 28 Eyre Street  Kingston  ACT  2604  Australia 

PO Box 4239  Kingston  ACT  2604  Australia

(T)  + 61 2 6232 6533   (F)  + 61 2 6232 6610 

anfcanberra@anf.org.au


Melbourne Office 


Level 1, 365 Queen Street  Melbourne  VIC  3000  Australia

(T )  + 61 3 9602 8500   (F)  + 61 3 9602 8567 

anfmelbourne@anf.org.au 

ANF Journals


Australian Nursing Journal 

Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing

anj@anf.org.au   ajan@anf.org.au

ABN 41 816 898 298


MEDIA RELEASE

NEWS, NURSING, AGED CARE, POLITICS


Tuesday May 12


Patients and the community are the big winners in ground

breaking health reform budget – Australian Nursing Federation


Australians will be healthier and have greater access to equitable, quality health care because

of changes announced in the Federal Budget, the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) said

today.


“Allowing rebates for prescriptions, referrals and diagnostic tests ordered by nurse practitioners

and midwives across Australia will break down the barriers that prevent Australians accessing

equitable health care,” ANF federal secretary Ged Kearney said. “This initiative will keep people

well, in the community and ultimately reduce pressure on public hospitals.”


“These changes will boost frontline healthcare across the community and make sure that those

people who receive health care from nurse practitioners and midwives can do so without facing

huge out of pocket expenses.” 


The ANF applauded these and other Budget initiatives saying that the Minister for Health, Nicola

Roxon had consistently shown that she understands the true value of nursing care and the

advanced skills of highly qualified nurses and midwives. 


“This represents a new era of health care and is a landmark reform of our health and hospital

system,” Ms Kearney said.


Under the reforms outlined by Minister for Health Nicola Roxon:


1.

Medicines prescribed by nurse practitioners and eligible midwives will come under the

Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule;


2.

Diagnostics tests and referrals ordered by nurse practitioners and eligible midwives will

attract rebates under the Medical Benefits Scheme; and 


3.

There will be a Government supported professional indemnity insurance scheme for

eligible midwives.


Aged Care


While we recognise that there is still a lot to be done for aged care and particularly those nurses

and carers working in aged care, we can see a commitment to reform that is encouraging and

we will continue to pursue the objectives of our  ‘Because We Care campaign, calling for major

reform in the sector. 





Business Finance Australian Nursing Federation 5 image

Business Finance Australian Nursing Federation 6 image

       

                                   



Canberra Office 


Unit 3, 28 Eyre Street  Kingston  ACT  2604  Australia 

PO Box 4239  Kingston  ACT  2604  Australia

(T)  + 61 2 6232 6533   (F)  + 61 2 6232 6610 

anfcanberra@anf.org.au


Melbourne Office 


Level 1, 365 Queen Street  Melbourne  VIC  3000  Australia

(T )  + 61 3 9602 8500   (F)  + 61 3 9602 8567 

anfmelbourne@anf.org.au 

ANF Journals


Australian Nursing Journal 

Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing

anj@anf.org.au   ajan@anf.org.au

ABN 41 816 898 298




Ms Kearney said the ANF’s current national Because We Care campaign is calling for:


1.

The right balance of skills and nursing hours so that nursing and care staff can

provide quality care for every resident.


2.

Fair pay for aged care nurses and care staff who are paid up to $300 per week less

than nurses in other sectors.


3.

Recognition of the professional skills of Assistants in Nursing and care staff through

a national licensing system. 


4.

A guarantee that taxpayer funding is used for nursing and personal care for each

resident.


“We are in desperate need of nursing staff with the right mix of nursing skills in aged care,” Ms

Kearney explained.


“The ANF looks forward to working with the Federal Government for increased funding and

reform for the aged care sector in the future,” Ms Kearney said.


Media inquiries:

Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary 


0417 053 322

Lee Thomas, ANF Assistant Federal Secretary 

0419 576 590

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.








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