The Rural General Practice Network has joined the New Zealand Nurses Organisation in supporting opening up the GMS subsidy to nurses but says the “devil is in the detail”
Dr Jo Scott-Jones, chair of the network which represents rural GPs and nurses, said it was very positive about the move to open up the funding to nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists working within the general practice team. (See News Feed stories August 5 & 6 for further details of the GMS announcement which prompted a backlash from some GPs)
He also said ‘the devil was in the detail’ and the definition of a general practice team might need further clarification.
“For example rural towns that are served by nurse-led clinics with the support of a doctor at distance are growing in number, and specific rural issues like this will need to be taken into account as the further details are worked through.”
Meanwhile Hilary Graham-Smith, the NZNO’s associate professional services manager, said the move was ‘a significant change’.
“Twelve years on from the release of the Primary Health Care Strategy we are finally moving past the rhetoric into a place where nursing can rightfully take its place as a lead provider of primary health care services.”
She said it also meant general practices could work smarter as up until now if a nurse did provide GMS-eligible health care a doctor had to “pop their head into the room” to be able to apply for the subsidy.
Graham-Smith said NZNO believed the change had the potential to change how New Zealanders receive their health care and thanked the Minister of Health for seeing the “big picture” and making the right decision.
Scott-Jones said the rural ACC contract was a great example of how a practice team approach could make the best use of all the skills that are present within a general practice.
