Advanced-practice nurses could address an “urgent need” and help the island’s healthcare system immediately if they are given more powers, the president of the Bermuda Nurses Association said yesterday.

Highly specialised APNs can prescribe only certain medicines in Bermuda if they have an agreement with a registered physician.

They are unable to put all of their training into practice, including prescribing, diagnosing and treating a range of conditions.

The Bermuda Medical Doctors Association stands firmly opposed to increasing APN autonomy, arguing that it would increase costs and decrease patient safety.

However, the BNA believes evidence from around the world is clear — increasing APN autonomy would improve efficiency and reduce overall costs.

Karen Grant-Simmons, the association president, welcomed the Government’s update, in which it confirmed that initial interest was shown in regards to stronger roles for APNs.

Dr Grant-Simmons said: “This is not about replacing doctors. It is about giving the people of Bermuda faster access to safe, high-quality care by allowing highly trained professionals to work to the full extent of their education and competence.

“The need is urgent. Bermuda’s own health strategy shows that 50 per cent of residents live with at least one chronic condition and up to 35 per cent may be unable to access quality healthcare without financial hardship.

“At the same time, the public is living with rising costs, difficulty getting timely appointments, growing mental health needs and unacceptable delays in hospital and emergency care.

“When care is delayed, families pay the price in stress, worsening illness and preventable suffering.

“For the people of Bermuda, this is personal — a senior who needs help managing medicines after leaving hospital, a person with diabetes or high blood pressure who needs regular follow-up, and a family trying to get timely care before a manageable problem becomes a crisis.

“Advanced-practice nurses can help meet those needs through earlier assessment, chronic disease management, mental health support, discharge follow-up, health education and routine treatment within a regulated scope of practice.”

She added: “International evidence is clear. For patients within their scope, nurse practitioners provide safe, effective care with outcomes comparable to physician-led care, with no evidence of negative effects on patient safety when they are properly trained and regulated.

“Research also shows that nurse practitioner care can improve access, strengthen continuity and, in many settings, provide comparable outcomes at lower cost for routine care.”

Dr Grant-Simmons highlighted that increasing power for APNs would not solve “every cause” of emergency department delays, but argued it could help to reduce pressure on the system.

She said: “A government update found that roughly 25 per cent to 35 per cent of emergency department patients could potentially have been treated in primary or community care settings instead.

“This is not healthcare on the cheap. It is smarter, earlier and more co-ordinated care.

“It means better use of limited healthcare resources, more time for physicians to focus on complex and critically ill patients, and better access for the public to the care they need, when they need it.”

Dr Grant-Simmons said that any expansion of powers should be matched with “clear standards”.

She said: “Bermuda cannot afford to leave highly qualified professionals underused while families face chronic illness, high healthcare costs and delays in care.

“This is not a choice between doctors and nurses.

“It is a choice to build a modern, collaborative healthcare system that uses every qualified professional wisely so the people of Bermuda can get the timely, affordable and high-quality care they deserve.”