Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

O’Connor says new regulations benefit rural areas


O’Connor says new regulations will benefit rural areas

Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor today said new standing order regulations will provide an important basis for timely health services in rural areas.

Standing orders allow nurses and some other healthcare workers to be given the delegation to supply and administer certain medicines.

“I am confident the standing orders will be welcomed in rural New Zealand,” Mr O’Connor said.

Mr O’Connor said often the only health professional on the spot in rural areas were nurses who needed to take urgent action. “The nearest doctor could be several hours drive away.”

“The standing orders will therefore be of value for rural practitioners and nurses,“ said Mr O’Connor. “The new regulations provide another example of this Government responding to the needs of rural health.”

Many rural health professionals had used a form of standing orders in the past because of the importance of attending to medical emergencies quickly, but the application varied because of a lack of clarity over whether they were legally permissible under the Medicines Act 1981, he said.

“Now there will be a clear legal framework and greater consistency in the administration of medicines.”

Regulations will be made under the Medicines Act to specify the basis on which standing orders can be issued, including the level of competency and training required and the circumstances under which the order can be administered.


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.