Council chief executive Catherine Byrne said Sangster, who began last month, had been seconded to help implement the reviewed designated prescribing medicines list and with the establishment of community nurse prescribing. “Nurse prescribing is complex and Karyn’s knowledge and expertise related to prescribing will be invaluable to the council.”
The number of designated nurse prescribers continued to grow, likewise the number of community nurse prescribing programmes, Byrne said. The council had accredited two community nurse prescribing programmes, with a further three well on the way to accreditation.
She emphasised the need for consistency across the six-month prescribing programmes. Once qualified, community nurse prescribers will be able to prescribe for a normally well population with a minor health concern.
The council acknowledged Counties Manukau DHB for making Sangster’s secondment possible.