The success of a trial New Zealand 24-hour phone line offering free medical advice could see it set up throughout the country, if the medical director of the service has his way. Dr St George says there is a need for Healthline in areas that have doctor shortages. The Health Funding Authority is funding a two-year pilot program in several areas.
Patients can ring in and talk to a nurse who then assesses what treatment is needed.
Dr St George says in Christchurch, Healthline has taken some of the pressure off the hospital's accident emergency department because patients have rung the hotline first and received appropriate medical advice. NZ nurses and GPs team up Practice nurses and general practitioners working alongside one another in surgeries around New Zealand now come under an umbrella group, the NZ College of Primary Care. The Royal NZ College of General Practitioners and the NZ College of Practice Nurses have retained their autonomy but will work more closely at a national level to improve patient care. Dr Ralph Wiles said it was appropriate and necessary that the leadership of those professions mirrored the way both professional groups worked. Nurses' College chairperson Marion Guy said the new college would share educational resources to improve the quality of training, and maintenance of professional standards.