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X MONTH library at www . ausdoc . com . au / therapy-update

2022

Heather Saxena A NEW Queensland Government plan

to allow registered nurses to prescribe MS-2 Step is an “ ad hoc and opaque ” attempt to expand their scope of practice , doctors say .

In a scathing response to the proposal , AMA Queensland said it risked patient safety and ignored a federal report on reproductive health .

Earlier this year , the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee recommended MS-2 Step prescribing rights for registered midwives , nurse

practitioners and Aboriginal health workers .

“ It is highly concerning that Queensland Health is proposing expansion beyond that recommended by the Senate Committee ,” said AMA Queensland CEO Dr Brett Dale ( PhD ).

“ This cannot be justified , lacks evidence and must not be further progressed .”

His submission said the State Government should wait for the results of the federal Department of Health and Aged Care ’ s scope of practice review ,

due in October next year , before introducing the change .

It alleged the Queensland Government had taken a “ secretive approach ”, giving just one working week to respond to its 30-page consultation paper on the plan .

And even then , the paper was only sent to “ targeted government and external stakeholders ”, the AMA said .

“ It is unacceptable that Queensland Health persists with this targeted and secretive approach to legislative amendments and does

not act with transparency and accountability by publishing all such proposals .”

However , GP abortion prescriber and Australian Doctor columnist Dr Heather McNamee said registered nurses were well placed to prescribe MS-2 Step .

“ Medical termination of pregnancy and the prescribing of MS-2 Step is a very safe protocol-driven procedure based on years of research and best practice guidelines ,” she said .

Dr Heather McNamee .

Antony Scholefield HEALTH officials will weigh up whether pathology and imaging results in the My Health Record should still be “ locked ” from patient access in the first week after they are uploaded .

The seven-day delay was introduced back in 2014 so that patients were less likely to look at results on their own before a doctor had explained them .

There are a few exceptions — such as tests for respiratory illnesses , including COVID- 19 , and results for HbA1c and INR tests .

However , Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said earlier this year that the delay was “ a barrier to good clinical practice [ and caused ] untold frustration for Australians ”.

He called for it to be scrapped in all but exceptional circumstances .

The health department opened a consultation on potential changes in September , where it argued that immediate access to imaging and pathology reports would “ empower consumers to better manage their own health and protect others in the community ”.

The consultation paper cited evidence from the US Open Notes initiative , which gives patients complete access to doctors ’ notes about them .

“ There is some evidence that consumers prefer immediate access even when they receive non-normal results ,” it said .

“ Other studies have reported that transparent medical records do not seem to greatly increase consumers ’ health-related worry .”

However , the department acknowledged that “ some healthcare providers have raised concerns about how immediate access to pathology notes might affect patient wellbeing ”.