Pharmacy Daily | Boosting scope benefits all: Guild

QUEENSLANDERS want to see pharmacists empowered to do more to support their healthcare needs, a survey of voters in four marginal Queensland State Parliament seats reveals.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Trent Twomey, said the poll highlighted the need for pharmacists to be allowed to work to their full scope of practice.

"We know community pharmacists are prevented from practising to their full scope of clinical training; this needs to change," he said.

"These results further prove that Queenslanders are crying out for more and better services.

"We are determined to deliver for Queenslanders and their families."

Twomey added that pharmacists' efforts to support their communities through the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the profession's potential to play a greater role in primary healthcare.

"This year alone Queensland community pharmacies have been involved in enhanced home delivery services, vaccination administration, medication substitution and continued dispensing arrangements, which demonstrates our ability to offer a wide array of primary healthcare solutions to the public," he said.

"The State's vast network of almost 6,000 practising pharmacists stands ready to continue supporting Queenslanders.

"Community pharmacist vaccinators are already trained to deliver vaccinations and are well-placed to conveniently and safely roll-out a COVID-19 vaccine and should be given a leading role."

With the state set to go to the polls on Sat, Twomey said the Guild had received commitments to support the profession from the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal National Party of Queensland and minor political parties.

"The Guild welcomes their commitments to the people of Queensland during this election," he said.

"Simply put, a community pharmacist practising to their full scope means better patient outcomes, patients don't go without necessary heathcare, less avoidable hospital admissions, and access to primary services are increased across Queensland."

"Full scope community pharmacists are a big win for patients.

"Queenslanders know this and it's reflected in these survey results."