‘They’re more confident than doctors at this’: How nurse-led clinics are easing the load on GPs
Dr Asitha Wickramatne says a PHN-funded foot care clinic has been transformative for himself and patients.
A GP says nurse-led clinics independently managing and assessing diabetes or peripheral neuropathies are a boon for him and his patients.
Since October 2024, Dr Asitha Wickramatne — a practice owner in Young, rural NSW — has received grant money for nurses at his practice to conduct a foot care clinic once or twice a month, usually without his involvement.
While many doctors have worried about nurses expanding their scope, Dr Wickramatne says the right set-up can be transformative for patients, especially outside of capital cities.
“In the country, you hear so much about how hard it is for patients to find a GP and how that impacts them,” he tells 6minutes.
