Qualification's:Medical History's and Police Checks

 
This blog is all about my call for National. Qualification check's:Medical History's and Police Checks to be mandatory for all persons involved in Home Visits and Homes of all kinds,particularly Nurses and their aids.
National Police Checks.
We have all observed the News stories, of people being abused in their own homes and Residential care homes (Facilities), By Nurses and their aids. We have also seen stories of Nurses, actually killing people in their care (Duty of Care - Ignored).
The one in Germany is particularly worrying, with is it hundred patients, covered up by the perpetrator obtaining praise for his care at trying to save the lives of people he was killing  --Caught and to be tried now.
A while agoe , there was the Lady Nurse in the UK doing a similar thing. This time on night duty, the favorite period for miss- behavior,as senior supervision is less in the small hours

National Police Check.

I am, convinced that, Nurses and their aids. must produce a National Police Check, and checked by a potential employer before being taken on. I also believe all "Existing" employees, Nurses and their Aids, must arrange for a National Police Check   -  Now.
In Australia, thanks to Australia Post, it is easy.
Anyone can apply in-store at a participating Post Office.
Visit auspost.com.au/police checks
Call 13post (13 76 78). Monday to Friday 8am-6pm
The  Post Office brochure,contains all requirements re documents etc and is reasonably straight forward, even for this retired gent.
This I think should deal also with matters like PVO's, any Welfare Checks made by police and Anger Management reports, whilst not! criminal offences, will give an indication of the persons possible hidden behaviour when stressed or upset in, or away from their work .
So far so good - We must come now to people from overseas, equally the same procedure.
I did an enquiry in the UK, via a County Constabulary by phone and they were very polite and gave me a special Gov.UK website to visit. A small fee would be applicable, naturally easy for modern people with their credit cards etc. I assume most agencies know how to make a check in other Countries.
National Police Check - Manditory please.

Qualifications Check

As we are targeting Nurses and their Aids, in particular, they all need to produce certification and proof
they are fully paid up members of the relevant Union or Association.
In Australia it is the"Australian Health Practitioners Authority" or APHRA. Of course there are associated
First Aid certificates and the growing "Home Nursing Group".
Qualifications and membership of Associations,are fine for all professions,it indicates that the person has the right "Kit of Tools" for the work that is to be performed. However as we all know, there are Nurses and there are Nurses!.There are people who are good at filling in  forms and job applications,who prove to be quite incapable of being a good and attentive Nurse.
Having spent., some years, as a patient, I know instinctively a good Nurse on first encounter. That goes for Doctors, Surgeons and various Specialist's  .I have dismissed a fare amount, as not being up to the job, of saving my life.
The important here is that the 'Whole' person must be looked looked at and assessed.
I gather, there are now training courses for Carers and therefore is a must for this category. ,  
Qualifications Check - Manditory please.

Health Record

With the introduction of "My Health Record' and the considerable media attention it has attracted, it is clear that NO Nurse or Aid should be allowed to opt out.
I am talking not just the basic brief electronic health record, but a thorough "Medical and Mental Assessment" for the job in hand.
Some nurses have the mistaken idea , that being a nurse "I am a nurse", he/she can and does recommend and prescribe medicines and procedures, that are essentially the area of a Qualified Doctor. and then only if she/he has actually attended the patient personally.  So often we are hearing of Nurses requesting drugs from a None attending Doctor.
The message is clear enough. We must not allow through the cracks, people with mental disorders present or historical , and such histories of Anger management, to get to be alone with patients in their homes, institutions etc. This is particularly relavent, at night when, senior supervision is minimal.
Remember all this applies to overseas checks on relevent staff.

There we have it.

POLICE: QUALIFICATION and HEALTH checks, are necessary, in this modern World

I Hope all this helps, the powers that regulate these matters.

Malcolm E Mason