2 NEWS
2 NEWS
18 JULY 2025 ausdoc. com. au
GP wound care bandaid
Antony Scholefield A LONG-awaited Federal Government scheme to provide fully subsidised dressings to some 20,000 older patients with diabetes is finally up and running.
For years, doctors have warned that GP practices lose money by offering wound care, especially when they are banned from charging for bandages after a bulk-billed consultation.
The government committed $ 50 million over five years back in 2023 to fully subsidise certain wound care products for patients with diabetes aged 65 or older, or 50 or older for Aboriginal patients.
The scheme received its official launch from Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler in June.
“ For too long, many Australians living with a chronic wound have had to pay more than $ 4000 every year for their compression bandages, dressing and adhesives,” he said.
“ We have built this program based on data that show older Australians with diabetes are the most likely to suffer from chronic wounds.”
The government said GPs could use PRODA( Provider Digital Access)— similar to ordering PBS stationery— to order the wound care products for eligible patients with chronic wounds, which could be delivered to the practice or the patient’ s home.
It defined chronic wounds as wounds that failed to progress through“ normal healing stages” within 30 days. There are conditions. GPs, nurses, Indigenous health practitioners, podiatrists and other“ medical practitioners in primary care settings” can only order the dressings
Mark Butler.
once they complete a one-hour online training program, run by Melbourne’ s Monash University.
The training covers evidence-based best practice in wound care as well as explaining how to use the ordering portal.
GPs must also enrol patients, who could not be receiving wound care through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Repatriation PBS, private or public hospitals or state-run health services.
Mr Butler said the program would be evaluated,
‘ Many Australians have had to pay more than $ 4000 every year.’
raising the possibility that it could be expanded to cover more of the 420,000 patients a year with chronic wounds.
In a 2021 AusDoc survey, 24 % of GPs and nurses providing wound care said they were frequently asking patients to provide their own dressings.
Some 70 % of those who took part said they were limiting the wound care they offered because of the government’ s failure to fund consumables. Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme: bit. ly / 3HXI1ZJ
AAP
| THE | WINTER SEASON SPECIAL
RSV med findings
Mohana Basu WIDESPREAD use of nirsevimab in infants may reduce RSV-related hospitalisations by more than half, Australian findings suggest.
The WA Government was the first to offer funded, statewide RSV immunisation with nirsevimab( Beyfortus) last year.
For six months, all infants entering their first RSV season( born in or after October 2023), as well as children aged 8-19 months at increased risk of severe RSV, were eligible to receive nirsevimab.
Around 21,900 of 30,900( 71 %) eligible infants received the injection.
A Monash University – led study found that RSV-associated hospital admissions in infants under 12 months subsequently dropped 57 % compared with the average number in 2022 and 2023.
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia in May, the study estimated that every 43 infants immunised prevented one hospital admission. Med J Aust 2025; 26 May.
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