New Zealand Paramedics Call for Registration

New Zealand Paramedics Call for Registration – 10th November, 2015

New Zealand Paramedics are delighted at the announcement that Australian paramedics are to be nationally registered. Paramedics Australasia (NZ) the peak professional body of paramedics, paid tribute to the Australian State Ministers of Health and the Federal Health Minister on this momentous decision.

Paramedics Australasia (NZ) now continues to stress the importance of New Zealand paramedic recognition as registered health professionals under the Health Practitioners’ Competency Assurance Act (2003).

“There is strong New Zealand political will for paramedic registration and regulation” says Paramedics Australasia (NZ) chairperson Mr Sean Thompson. “The National government, the Labour Party, Greens and New Zealand First have all expressed support for professional recognition of paramedics.” Mr Thompson says the process is slow but he is very hopeful that the Australian decision will help pave the way for the important and life saving work of New Zealand paramedics to be officially recognised.

“New Zealanders rely on paramedics to respond to emergency and general health care incidents. A robust national registration system is needed to ensure the competency of anyone who carries the title of paramedic”, he said.

New Zealand paramedics are highly trusted by New Zealanders and provide clinical care in a variety of healthcare settings for those who are most vulnerable and in need. “The scope of practice of New Zealand paramedics has advanced dramatically over the past 20 years” says Mr Thompson. “Many of the services and clinical interventions we provide in the out-of-hospital setting have previously only been the realm of the Emergency Department or General Practitioner. Legislation has taken longer than we would have liked to recognise this rapidly increasing responsibility and the risk it attracts to both our patients and paramedics” he said.

“In the public interest we call on the Minister of Health and Health Workforce New Zealand to continue to progress registration without delay and thereby recognise the unique role and contributions that paramedics make in the healthcare system.”

Paramedics are currently registered as medical professionals in other jurisdictions including the UK, Ireland and South Africa.

ENDS

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