Many GP nurses still doing fewer hours than before COVID-19

This is despite MBS funding for practice nurse telehealth, says nurses' leader Karen Booth
APNA president Karen Booth.

Many practice nurses are still working fewer hours than before the coronavirus pandemic struck, despite being eligible for MBS telehealth funding, a survey suggests.

In March, nearly a third of practice nurses said they had their hours cut as patient attendances dropped.

But a follow-up survey in August of 670 nurses, found 15% are still working reduced hours and 1.2% had lost their jobs.

However 11% said they were working more hours than before COVID-19, according to the survey conducted by the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA).