What are “nursing care consumables” under Support at Home?

The service list places “nursing care consumables” within Clinical supports such as nursing care and clinical nursing activities like medication administration, wound care, continence management (clinical), and skin integrity management. It can also include specialised items that are specific to the client and linked to a clinical need, such as prescribed skin emollients or oxygen consumables. These items must be supported by a clinician-led treatment plan, recorded in the care plan and budget, and reviewed regularly.

It also clarifies the difference between everyday consumables and specialised consumables:

Everyday nursing consumables (for example, bandages and antiseptics) are expected to be included in the nursing hourly price. (Support at Home Program Manual – Page 132)

The nursing consumables service is for specialised nursing products specific to an individual, that a nurse would not be expected to carry as everyday stock (example given: prescribed skin emollients for skin integrity and disposable continence aids). (Support at Home Program Manual – Page 132)

If your Notice of Decision includes nursing care consumables, to ensure items meet your assessed needs and are included in your care plan and budget, a Local Guardians nurse (or another relevant clinician) will work with you to confirm and document the clinical need, goal, and appropriate product selection in your care plan, and this will be reviewed regularly.