The Wire

Finally to a good public health story… Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott wants to expand the role of nurses in general practice in response to the national shortage of doctors. Under the current system, nurses can only claim a Medicare rebate when they carry out immunisation and wound management. But Mr Abbott wants to widen the rebate to cover more services, now provided by GPs. The Australian Nurses Federation has been advocating this change and says it’s a step in the right direction. National Secretary Jill Iliffe says that the jobs nurses would be allowed to do under this scheme are ones they already do in other settings, such as hospitals and community centres. She told The Wire that nurses have responded positively.