Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Rural nurses seek wider responsibilities

Updated at 4:41 pm on 19 March 2010

Rural nurse practitioners say they're being hampered by legislative barriers that are preventing them from doing their jobs properly.

They're joining their urban counterparts in pushing ministers and government departments to amend laws that require doctors to sign documents giving patients access to the treatment and allowances they need.

The Rural General Practice Network says it's been a long-standing issue for nurses in country areas, who have often been the ones to make decisions about patient care.

But the network's chair, Kirsty Murrell-McMillan, says the issue has been heightened by the emergence of practice nurses, who have taken on more responsibilities for health care in general practices.

She says there are barriers to nurse practitioners doing their jobs properly - for example, in signing forms for a Work and Income transport allowance or signing certificates that continues disability allowances.

This means significant delays for some patients, she says.

Ms Murrell-McMillan says Health Minister Tony Ryall is looking into the legislative barriers after the issue was raised with him at last week's Rural General Practice Network conference.

Nursing representatives will be approaching other ministers and departments as well, such as the Social Development and Employment Minister, Paula Bennett.

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