May 04, 2020
Maori nurses expand roles
The head of West Auckland's Te Whānau o Waipareira is welcoming a relaxation in the rules to allow nurses to carry out vaccinations, provide medicines and treat asthma patients and strep throat.
John Tamihere says such tasks were once the sole domain of senior clinicians and GPs.
He says the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the pressure the health system was under and opened the door for Māori nurses such as those at Waipareira to play a greater role and in the process encourage more Māori to engage with health services.
Dr Kevinit Sandhu, who heads Waipareira’s drive through COVID-19 clinic, says anyone suffering serious respiratory issues should still go to their GP, but the clinic nurses can offer treatments for conditions such as runny nose, cough, sore throat or chest infection.
They will also give flu jabs to eligible people.
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