Education events
Poisons Regulations Amendments
As from Monday 2 June 2012 nurse practitioners in Western Australia have the Legislative authority to prescribe Schedule 8 medicines in accordance with approved clinical protocols / clinical practice guidelines.
An education forum was held on the 7th May 2012 at the Western Australian Department of Health informing nurse practitioners of planned amendments to the Western Australian (WA) Poisons Regulations 1965. The event, hosted by the Nursing and Midwifery Office, the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners and the Australian College of Midwives was well attended and the evaluation was very positive.
The amendments allow nurse practitioners to practice to their full scope,. and see improved efficiency and effectiveness in the health care they provide to the WA community. The amendments bring WA in line with medication prescribing in other States and Territories of Australia.
While the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010 identifies those who are qualified to prescribe scheduled medicines, it is the WA Poisons Act 1964 and its subsidiary legislation which authorises them to prescribe scheduled medicines. Up until 2 June the legislation authorised prescribing rights to nurse practitioners for Schedule 4 medicines thechanges now authorise nurse practitioners prescribing rights for Schedule 8 medicines in accordance with approved clinical protocols / clinical practice guidelines.
The forum included speakers from the Department of Health’s Pharmaceutical Services Branch, Drug and Alcohol Office and the Nursing and Midwifery Office. Speakers provided: an overview of how the changes would affect current practice; how to respond to situations that may arise in their practice following the changes; as well as how to seek approval to include Schedule 8 medicines to current clinical protocols / clinical practice guidelines.
The forum was filmed to ensure that those unable to attend would have access to the presentations. Download here or contact the Nursing and Midwifery Office on (08) 92224075 or email nursingwa@health.wa.gov.au to request a copy
The Nursing and Midwifery Office would like to acknowledge the WA Department of Health’s Pharmaceutical Services and the Legal and Legislative Branch for their hard work in bringing about these amendments.
Nurse practitioners and other relevant parties will be or have been informed that the legislation amendments have been gazetted by the Nursing and Midwifery Office and / or the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners.
| Presentation |
|---|
| Legal ramifications of amendments to the Poisons Regulations 1965 (PDF) Jane Carpenter, A/Chief Pharmacist, DOH |
| Drug seeking behaviour — identifying and dealing with the issues (PDF) Dr Richard O’Regan, Next Step DAO |
| Managing prescriptions and care of script pads — Forgeries, Scams (PDF) Michael Cao, Pharmacist, DOH |
| Dealing with drug representatives (PDF) Neil Keen, A/Director, DMRP DOH |
| Adding schedule 8 drugs to current CPGS and protocols (PDF) Annette Fraser, SNO NMO DOH |
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