Retired GPs, nurses on outbreak standby
Retired GPs and nurses could be called back to work in a possible coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Health says.
This comes after 54 hospital staff members in New Zealand were asked to go into selfisolation after treating a probable case of Covid-19.
Ministry of Health directorgeneral of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the ministry had looked at bringing back recent retirees from hospitals to raise staffing numbers if the situation gets worse.
Yesterday the number of confirmed cases remained at five, and there were two probable cases, he said.
The ministry is working with the Medical Council and the Nursing Council on plans to accelerate the recertification process for former health professionals if needed.
Figures from the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) show that 200 former GPs could return, while ministry figures show that 136 GPs have stopped practising in the past year, Bloomfield said.
It was an idea that had ‘‘merit’’, said Dr Bryan Betty, RNZCGP’s medical director.
But special protections would need to be in place for older doctors, as people over 65 were more susceptible to the virus.
‘‘The fundamental problem is we are coming into winter,’’ Betty said.
‘‘On top of the normal workload, flowing into the flu season is a very busy time for all GPs. We know that GPs are pretty stretched already.’’
He said it would be up to the individual whether they wanted to come out of retirement.
‘‘It would have to be managed carefully. I spoke to a couple [of retired GPs] recently who said they would be happy to do it. There is no compulsion.’’
This could mean older doctors would triage patients over the phone or remotely to help ease pressures. But it was too early to say whether the returning doctors would make a big difference, Betty said.
‘‘We don’t know how this is unfolding at the moment. It changes day by day and week by week. GPs are the frontline and the core of the heath system and it needs support from the ministry and the Government.’’
Plans were also under way to return nurses who were not currently practising to work in border screening and pandemic vaccination and in community-based pandemic assessment centres if needed, Bloomfield said.
Nurses’ practising certificates should be able to be issued the same day.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s associate professional services manager, Hilary Graham-Smith, said there were a whole range of things nurses could do even though they were no longer practising.
Just because someone had retired did not mean that they had forgotten what to do, she said.
‘‘I think it is a sensible idea if we are going to have an increasing number of cases. We have got to get nurses from somewhere. We are just waiting and watching with interest.’’
The 54 quarantined frontline staff members will come out of their 14-day self-isolation today.
‘‘We have got to get nurses from somewhere.’’ Hilary GrahamSmith NZ Nurses Organisation