PHARMACY staff in NSW will be among the frontline health professionals entitled to access hotel accommodation to keep a safe distance from at-risk family members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the measure, the hotel industry, including home-sharing platform Airbnb, and the NSW Department of Health have established a register to help frontline staff book a room where they can stay during the crisis.
The move announced by the State Government has been welcomed by Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President, who noted a similar program in Western Australia had already seen a number of health professionals housed in hotel accommodation to protect their families.
"Pharmacists have been on the frontline since the COVID-19 crisis began, and we will be here until the end," Heffernan said.
"In doing their job, pharmacists have been abused, punched, spat on, and even had medicine bottles thrown at them by a tiny minority of patients.
"It's fantastic to see the hotel industry offer accommodation to healthcare workers, who can't go home out of fear of spreading this virus to their families."
"Equally, the Berejiklian Government and the NSW Department of Health should be congratulated for taking accommodation providers up on their offer to help the professionals who care for us, care for their families."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 08 Apr 20
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