Paramedics say expanded prescribing powers will improve access to healthcare and reduce pressure on hospitals, but some health experts want safeguards to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use.
Last month, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced paramedics will soon be able to prescribe medication to some patients, in a move he said would improve healthcare across the country.
“Our paramedic workforce is an incredibly highly skilled workforce and whilst they might be mostly known for working in ambulances, they also work in urgent care clinics and primary care clinics and provide a lot of care directly to patients,” Brown said.
Brown added their ability to prescribe medicines would provide greater and faster access to treatments patients need for conditions such as diabetes, asthma and infections.
Wellington Free Ambulance Executive Medical Director Dr Erica Douglass told 1News paramedics would be able to assess a patient and if deemed safe, provide initial treatment before prescribing the appropriate medication.
“For example, preventing what could become a serious infection by early intervention, but then also avoiding a long transport into the city,” she said.
Douglass, who also worked at Wellington Hospital, said the change would ease pressure on emergency departments and improve care for rural patients.
“It might take somebody having to take an entire day off work to travel into the city to see a specialist or to go to a hospital to be seen if there isn't a doctor in their community, not to mention the cost associated with that.”
Auckland University primary healthcare professor Dr Bruce Aroll said while there were several advantages, he was concerned about the overprescription of antibiotics.
“There's a huge range of discretionary illnesses where antibiotics are given, and that's the hard thing to regulate," he said.
Aroll believed strict safeguards should be introduced to prevent any increase in antibiotic resistance.
“Antibiotics on occasion will be lifesaving, so if they have what's called a standing order, it's a bit of a checklist to make sure you're doing the right thing.”
Brown reaffirmed that patient safety would be the main priority.
“The Paramedic Council will put a scope of practice in place which will clearly outline what the role of a paramedic prescriber is. The Ministry of Health will put in place a very clear list of what the medications are,” said Brown.
According to the Ministry of Health, the final list of approved medicines will be authorised in the next few weeks. Paramedics will be required to complete approved training before they are permitted to prescribe.
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