Paramedicine Board of Australia to be established, nursing & midwifery to be established as separate professions & AHPRA disciplinary enforcement powers to be strengthened
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and National Boards have welcomed the passing of two legislative reforms by the Queensland Parliament and the Parliament of Western Australia in September.
A first since the establishment of the National Scheme in 2010, the reforms, Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 and Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Amendment Bill 2017 in Queensland and Western Australia respectively, aim to establish the Paramedicine Board of Australia and introduce new ways for a safer access to healthcare.
The four amendments involved are:
- Introduction of national regulation of paramedics
- establishment of the Paramedicine Board of Australia
- appointment of inaugural board members by Health Ministers
- commencement of the national registration of paramedics in the second half of 2018
- Recognition of nursing and midwifery as separate professions
- Strengthening the management of complaints and disciplinary enforcement powers of AHPRA and National Boards through changes in:
- Provision of practice information
- Public interest groups for immediate action
- Extension of prohibition order powers
- Communication with notifiers
- Granting of additional powers for COAG Health Council to change the structure of national boards
Martin Fletcher AHPRA CEO expressed confidence to the new amendment saying, “The amendments to the National Law will mean extra protection for the public when they see a registered health practitioner. The changes will strengthen our management of notifications so we can better meet community expectations of regulation to ensure patient safety.”
“We welcome these changes to the National Law and look forward to the commencement of national registration of paramedicine in 2018,” he added.
Photo by sv1ambo on VisualHunt.com / CC BY
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