Nurses are calling on the Government to remove legislative barriers that prevent them from getting urgent help for rural patients.
The Rural General Practice Network is holding its conference in Christchurch at the weekend.
Chairperson Kirsty Murrell-McMillan says nurses have told the conference they are unable to sign forms enabling patients to receive Work and Income allowances or declare car accident victims dead.
Ms Murrell-McMillan says nurses are the only health providers in many remote areas, and some patients are having to wait for up to a fortnight for vital paperwork to be completed by a doctor.
