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The big issue - the 2009-10 Federal Budget

Health Budget 2009-10 in brief

The community is set to benefit from this year’s $64 billion Health Budget due to the long awaited decision to allow nurse practitioners and eligible midwives access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Despite tough financial times, this decision shows a pragmatic commitment from the Government to tackle critical areas of need in Australia’s health care system. $59.7 million over four years will be invested to enhance the role of the nurse practitioner to improve the flexibility and capacity of Australia’s health workforce. For the first time, access to MBS and PBS will also be provided for eligible midwives, bringing expanded choice for women, at a cost of $66.6 million over four years.

A total of $120.5 million has been earmarked for Maternity Services in order to improve choice and access for
pregnant women and new mothers in Australia. MBS and PBS benefits provided by eligible midwives will mean greater access to maternity care with a strong focus on extending rural services. Government support for professional indemnity insurance for midwives was also listed as a commitment in this year’s budget. Extra scholarships for midwives will be provided to expand the maternity workforce, and a new 24 hour telephone helpline will be set up to provide maternity information services to women and their families.

Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) on the Budget

On 12 May 2009, senior staff members from RCNA’s national office attended the Department of Health and Ageing 2009-10 Budget briefing session in Canberra, presented by DOHA Secretary Jane Halton.

Overall, RCNA sees nurses and midwives as winners in this year’s Federal Budget, with key initiatives targeted at improving access to health care in Australia. Two announcements carry particular significance for nurse practitioners and midwives – access to the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and Government support for access to professional indemnity insurance for midwives. RCNA believes these announcements support the Government’s commitment to invest in health care reform, along with the expansion and
modernisation of the health workforce and the provision of greater choice in maternity services.

While RCNA is largely supportive of the positive measures for nurses and midwives in the Health Budget, we will continue to monitor key issues as further information becomes available. Namely, the scope of access to the MBS and PBS and any other conditions imposed will require further scrutiny as details are released. In particular, the qualification that access to the MBS and PBS will be for eligible midwives working in collaboration with doctors. While RCNA recognises the need for and value of collaborative multidisciplinary practice, nurse practitioners and midwives have the education and skills to work autonomously.

Policy in nursing

The Royal College of Nursing, Australia, (RCNA) in conjunction with the Australian Nurses Federation (ANF) this month released a Joint Guideline statement on Influenza Pandemic. The statement aims to inform members and other nurses on their role in the preparation for, and management of a pandemic in Australia. According to the guidelines, the leading role of the nurse in the event of a pandemic requires awareness of professional and ethical issues that may arise, and the ability to disseminate correct information to the public. As frontline health workers and as community members, nurses may be called on to give care and advice in a pandemic situation. The role of the nurse before, during, and after a pandemic, and in various settings such as clinical care, community and primary health care, is set out in the guidelines. Other issues such as vaccination and attendance at work are also addressed. Planning for preparedness, it says, requires a coordinated response between health professionals, service providers and communities in order to reduce the effects of a pandemic, should it occur.

To read the RCNA and ANF Joint Guidelines on Influenza Pandemic, please click here.

Opportunities

TGA's Communication and Consultation Process - Online Survey: 1 - 21 June 2009

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is conducting a short online survey from 1-21 June 2009 to get feedback on the TGA's current communications and consultation processes. The survey can be accessed from the TGA website at www.tga.gov.au. The TGA is asking for feedback from all its stakeholders - consumers, patients, healthcare professionals and anyone connected to the therapeutic goods industry. Results from the survey will be available by late September 2009.

PhD candidate conducts survey on wrongdoing

Marissa Edwards, a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland, is running an online survey about responses to wrongdoing (e.g., bullying, fraud, negligence, malpractice, abuse of power) in organisations. She is particularly interested in hearing from nurses, and would like to hear from participants who reported the wrongdoing, as well as those who remained silent or confronted the perpetrator. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential. The survey and additional information is available by clicking here.

Expressions of interest sought by AHHA and Heart Foundation

Are you interested in exploring solutions to improve in hospital treatment and care for Indigenous Australians with cardiovascular disease? The AHHA and Heart Foundation are seeking participants for a Disparities in Hospital CVD Care for Indigenous Australians Working Group. Participants will meet 3-4 times by teleconference and once in a face-to-face meeting to develop the Policy Paper.
For more information or to send an expression of interest, email Kelly O'Donohue at the Heart Foundation with your contact details and information on your position, organisation and background in this field or call 07 3872 2531.

New Parkinson’s disease education opportunity

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurological disorder in Australia. Parkinson's Australia and the Federal Government have developed the Online GPs Parkinson's Education Program, now available to health care practitioners across Australia at www.primed.com/parkinsons.
Medical practitioners and health professionals can sign up to access the benefits of the free program and earn continuing education points by completing sections of the course. The Parkinson’s Online GPs Education Program provides medical practitioners and health professionals in across Australia with information, resources and best practice guidelines on Parkinson’s disease.

Free access to swine flu information from DynaMed

EBSCO Publishing and the DynaMed Editors have made DynaMed’s information about Swine Influenza free to health care providers and institutions throughout the world.
The DynaMed topic on Swine Influenza consolidates information from multiple sources with recommendations for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating patients with flu-like illnesses during this outbreak. DynaMed Editors will continue to monitor information and update this topic as needed throughout this global crisis. Please click here for more information from Dynamed.

Rural health challenges are highlighted online

The National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) has published a new series of fact sheets aimed at highlighting the current state of health in rural, regional and remote Australia. Material posted so far provides facts on issues such as ageing in rural, regional and remote areas, the impact and importance of obesity and nutrition, and the incidence of cancer among those who live outside major metropolitan areas.
The fact sheets provide up-to-date information on critical aspects of health in rural areas and are available by accessing the Alliance website here.

RCNA scholarships now open

Applications are now open for the following awards, available to full paying members of RCNA:

The Patricia Slater Award is presented each year to a registered nurse and is within the first three years of graduation from an undergraduate entry to practice nursing course.

The Gertrude Berger Award is available to an Enrolled/Division 2 nurse who demonstrates outstanding qualities in clinical excellence.

Scholarship recipients will be supported to attend the RCNA 2009 Annual Conference in Melbourne.

The Rural Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, RCNA and the Country Women’s Association of Australia, is launching their Continuing Professional Development Scholarship for 2009. There are two scholarships available to the value of $1500. Click here for more information.

ICN 24TH Quadrennial Congress, Durban – call to delegates

RCNA is compiling a list of Australian delegates attending ICN’s 24th Quadrennial Congress in Durban from 17 June to 4 July. RCNA’s members who are planning to attend, are asked to email RCNA Events Manager Margaret Whitrow with their details.
During the Congress, RCNA will be launching the 25th Quadrennial Congress to be held in Melbourne in 2013. We hope that Australian delegates will join RCNA in promotional activities to be arranged in Durban.

Anaphylaxis training can save a life

Anaphylactic shock is a sudden and severe reaction to a substance that can be fatal within 20 minutes without immediate and appropriate First Aid. The Red Cross newly accredited three-hour course in the First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis is ideal for parents, childcare providers, teachers, sports groups and safety teams attending public events.
The course includes vital information on how to assess and identify someone suffering a severe allergic reaction, minimising risk, developing an Action Plan, giving appropriate First Aid treatment, administering adrenalin with an EpiPen and evaluating the response. For enrolment information, ring 1300 367 428 or visit the Red Cross website.

Entries now open for the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CS&H ISC) National Accolades for Excellence

The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council National Accolades for Excellence launched to recognise Australian Organisations are being awarded for the first time in 2009. Applications from organisations that operate in the Community Services and Health Industries are welcomed.
The overarching categories of the Accolades are: Enterprise Accolades for Workforce Development, Open Accolades for Growing Partnership, Open Accolades for Delivery of Excellence in Rural and Remote Areas, Policy Accolade.
Application forms are available here.
For more information, email Accolades Co-coordinator Deva Braakensiek or call 02 9270 6636.

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Top links

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