Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Health
15th September 2008
New DVD to promote nurse practitioners
The Minister of Health, David Cunliffe today described Nurse practitioners as a significant new force in the Health
system.
Launching a new DVD profiling nurse practitioners he said “they are able to independently diagnose and prescribe and
they will be used where we need them most in primary health care .”
“While there are 49 fully qualified nurse practitioners in the country there are many more now in the process of
qualifying to work alongside multi disciplinary teams across the Health Sector .”
“In 2001 we had just one nurse practitioner in the country so its great news that this group of extremely skilled nurses
are now having a very real impact ,”said Mr Cunliffe.
“It is now up to District Health Boards and other Health providers to use their skills by employing more of them.”
The Minister today announced a further years funding of $300,000 for the promotion of Nurse Practitioners under the
Nurse Practitioner Innovations Fund .
“This programme has been very successful in getting across the message that these nurse practitioners have great
potential but the job isn’t over yet.”
ENDS