Victoria’s Super Pharmacies
November 27, 2015
The Victorian government has
announced the opening of tenders
to deliver its Super Pharmacies
Initiative creating five 24-hour,
7-day-a-week pharmacies by June
2016, as the first stage of a lan to
deliver 20 Super Pharmacies by
2018.
The pharmacies will provide 24/7
services with a nurse present 6 to
10 pm daily to deliver “basic care,
face-to-face advice and treatment
for minor injury and illness.
“The Government recognises
community pharmacies have a
trusted role in the healthcare
system at a local level and are well
placed to accommodate additional
assessment and treatment services
in a safe environment,” Minister for
Health Jill Hennessy said.
“This service will help ease the
pressure on hospital staff – allowing
doctors and nurses to concentrate
on treating the sickest patients
presenting in hospital emergency
departments,” she added.
Other initiatives announced
would see pharmacists deliver
flu and adult whooping cough
vaccinations and manage
patients with chronic diseases, in
partnership with GPs.
Flu vaccines in pharmacies
commence next year and whooping
cough for adults in 2017, Hennessy
said, pointing out that eligible
adults will be able to access the
vaccines under the National
Immunisation Program and
Victorian Government’s Parent
Whooping Cough Vaccine Program
from their pharmacist.
Further, the two-year Pharmacist
Chronic Disease Management
pilot program will see pharmacists
and GPs in three trial locations
working together to help patients
manage their chronic illnesses and
medications, under a GP care plan.
The Victorian Branch of the
Pharmacy Guild has welcomed
the announcement, with branch
president Anthony Tassone saying
these initiatives are a step in the
right direction with pharmacists
available, equipped and open to
playing a greater role in the primary
healthcare team.
PSA National President hailed
the move, saying the initiatives
are a “sensible policy response
to growing healthcare problems,
including falling vaccination rates
and the increasing burden of
chronic disease”.
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