New Law Boosts Medication Controls in Aged Care Sectors

The Victorian Government has made a number of legislative changes that are designed to increase protection of high-care aged patients.

The new legislation and accompanying regulations, which are effective from May 31, introduce procedures for managing and supervising the administration of medication to patients in the aged care sector.

Under the new rules, a registered nurse division 1, 3 or 4 must manage the administration of medication to high-care residents in aged care facilities.

The new laws will for the first time provide safeguards for the administration of medication by personal care attendants. The changes will also cover hostels.

The amendments extend coverage of regulation and professional supervision of administering medication to more than 9500 additional residents.

The Nurses Board of Victoria was required under the legislation to draft a Code of Guidance covering the new rules. The Code has been drafted after extensive consultation with the nursing community and the Code can be viewed on the NBV's website (www.nbv.org.au).

To help nurses understand and adapt to the new rules the NBV will conduct educational sessions throughout Victoria and the Board has established a hotline to answer queries from nurses in the field (insert number).

There have been reports recently that the new rules about medication have caused retrenchments in country areas. The retrenchments have not been caused by the new Code of Guidance; they are more likely a consequence of the new Federal Government industrial legislation.