UNACCEPTABLE waiting times to see GPs are fuelling public support for the expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice, a survey commissioned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, by research group, Insightfully, reveals.
The survey, which was released yesterday to mark World Pharmacists' Day (25 Sep), found that almost 40% of the 2,411 respondents reported that GP waiting times were longer than they considered to be acceptable, with one-in-four saying they had been forced to attend an Emergency Department, due to being unable to access a GP appointment.
Close to 90% of respondents said they would support pharmacists providing more services including the full range of vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) (83%), testing for influenza and supplying anti-viral medicines if required (81%) and administering injectable medications (72%).
Guild National President, Trent Twomey, said community pharmacists were well placed to ease the pressure being faced by GPs and provide patients with timely access to health services.
"The wait times to see a GP are unacceptable," he said.
"Some 28% of Australians are waiting, on average, more than a week to get an appointment for themselves or someone they care about.
"In regional areas the number of people waiting more than three weeks for an appointment increases to 15%.
"Our doctors are under huge stress and patients are the ones suffering.
"This can be fixed, and fixed easily by enabling pharmacists to use the skills and expertise they have trained for.
"There is no reason why this time next year when we recognise World Pharmacists Day that we cannot be celebrating the ability of pharmacists to do more for their patients.
"Pharmacists need to be able to work to their full scope and this research shows this is something that patients want and need."
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